THE  LIBRARY 

OF 

THE  UNIVERSITY 

OF  CALIFORNIA 

LOS  ANGELES 

Ex  Libris 


Katharine  F.  Richmond 

and 

Henry  C.  Fall 


3344. 


-  <r6 


?.  D 


«L. 


£lU~£  'fr  'fJi- 


1000  copies  issued 

THiS  COPY   NO._£££_ 


Col.  Lucien  Thompson 


HISTORY 

of  the 

TOWN   OF   DURHAM 

NEW  HAMPSHIRE 
(Oyster  River  Plantation) 

WITH 

GENEALOGICAL  NOTES 

By  EVERETT  S.  STACKPOLE 
and  LUCIEN  THOMPSON 


IN  TWO  VOLUMES 


Volume  One 

NARRATIVE 


PUBLISHED  BY  VOTE  OF  THE  TOWN 


F 


CONTENTS 

PAGE 

Birth  and  Growth  of  the  Town i 

Early  Settlers  and  Estates 31 

Exiles  from  Scotland 75 

Depredations  By  Indians 85 

Military  History 107 

Sketch  of  Church  History 169 

Roads 219 

Burial  Places 239 

Slavery 249 

Education 257 

Lawyers  and  Law  Students 277 

Physicians        285 

Leaders  in  the  Past 291 

Some  Men  of  the  Present 315 

Post  Office  and  Postmasters        331 

Some  Old  Houses   ....         337 

Lists  of  Town  Officers 361 

First  Census  of  the  United  States,  1790        371 

Marriages 379 

Baptisms 391 

Deaths         395 

Index  of  Places  and  Subjects 399 

Index  of  Names         405 


1066154 


ILLUSTRATIONS 

PAGE 

Col.  Lucien  Thompson Frontispiece 

Shankhassick,  or  Oyster  River 4 

Durham  Village  as  Seen  from  Broth  Hill 18 

Davis-Smith  Garrison,  Lubberland 34 

Adams  Point,  First  Called  "Matthews  Neck" 37 

Mouth  of  Long  Creek 42 

Shore  of  Little  Bay 44 

Map  of  Oyster  River  Plantation 48 

Comfort  Mathes  Camp 51 

Goat  Island 61 

Bunker  Garrison 62 

Bunker  Garrison 63 

Head  of  Tide  Water,  Oyster  River 70 

Upper  End  of  College  Reservoir,  in  "Follets  Marsh" 72 

The  Major  John  Demerit  Residence,  Madbury 120 

Gen.  John  Sullivan 134 

Sullivan  Monument 136 

Newtown  Battlefield  Monument 139 

Gen.  Alexander  Scammell 140 

Scammell  Grange 142 

Lieut. -Col.  Winborn  Adams'  Inn 145 

Survivors  of  the  Civil  War 161 

Major  Daniel  Smith 163 

Samples  of  Durham  Scenery 188 

Rev.  Curtis  Coe 202 

Rev.  Federal  Burt 205 

Rev.  Alvan  Tobey,  D.  D 208 

Congregational  Church 209 

Congregational  Church,  Interior 210 

Congregational  Church 212 

The  Parsonage 214 

Lamprey  River,  Second  Falls 220 

Residence  of  the  Late  Deacon  John  E.  Thompson 222 

Oyster  River  Freshet 224 

The  Road  to  Bagdad 226 

Spruce  Hole 234 

Pascataqua  Bridge 235 

Relics  of  Pascataqua  Bridge 236 

Boston  &  Maine  Railroad  Station 237 

School  Houses  at  Packer's  Falls 258 

Village  School  House 263 

New  Hampshire  College 266 


VI  ILLUSTRATIONS 

PAGE 

Thompson  Hall 268 

Houses  now  or  once  Used  by  College  Fraternities 270 

Edward  Thomson  Fairchild,  LL.  D 272 

Residence  of  the  College  President 273 

Dean  Charles  H.  Pettee,  LL.  D 274 

Hon.  James  F.  Joy 283 

Alphonso  Bickford,  M.  D 289 

Judge  Valentine  Smith 296 

Hon.  Stephen  Demeritt 297 

Benjamin  Thompson 299 

Hamilton  A.  Mathes 300 

Miss  Mary  Pickering  Thompson         301 

Deacon  John  Thompson 3°3 

Deacon  John  Emerson  Thompson 304 

Deacon  Albert  Young 3«5 

Mills  at  Wiggin's  Falls 306 

Thomas  H.  Wiswall 3°7 

Wiswall's  Paper  Mill 30S 

Hamilton  Smith 310 

Ebenezer  Thompson 311 

Mark  H.  Mathes 312 

Gen.  Alfred  Hoitt 313 

Hon.  Joshua  B.  Smith 3ID 

Forrest  S.  Smith           317 

Hon.  Jeremiah  Langley 3T8 

Hon.  Daniel  Chesley 321 

Charles  Wentworth 322 

Col.  Arioch  W.  Griffiths 323 

Albert  DeMeritt 325 

Charles  E.  Hoitt 326 

Valentine  Mathes 327 

Charles  S.  Langley 328 

George  W.  Ransom 329 

Joseph  William  Coe 333 

George  D.  Stevens 335 

Residence  of  Gen.  John  Sullivan 33& 

Inn  of  Master  John  Smith 33,9 

Residence  of  Miss  Margaret  B.  Ffrost 34° 

Interior  of  Residence  of  Miss  Margaret  B.  Ffrost 342 

Residence  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  George  H.  Mendell 343 

Red  Tower,  Residence  of  the  Late  Hamilton  Smith 344 

Residence  of  the  Late  Judge  Valentine  Smith 34° 

Residence  of  Ebenezer  Smith 347 

House  Built  by  James  Joy       ...» 348 

Residence  of  Albert  DeMeritt 350 

Woodman  Garrison 352 

Woodman  Garrison  in  Flames 353 


ILLUSTRATIONS  Vll 

PAGE 

Residence  of  Col.  Lucien  Thompson 354 

Library  of  Col.  Lucien  Thompson 355 

Residence  of  Forrest  S.  Smith 358 

Summer  Camp  of  Elisha  R.  Brown 359 

Interior  of  Mr.  Brown's  Camp 360 


FOREWORD 

The  movement  to  publish  a  History  of  Durham  was  begun  in 
1885  by  a  vote  in  town  meeting,  authorizing  the  appointment  of 
a  committee  by  the  selectmen  for  that  purpose.  The  committee 
so  appointed  consisted  of  Joshua  B.  Smith,  Winthrop  S.  Meserve 
and  Lucien  Thompson.  In  1886,  in  response  to  a  petition  signed 
by  this  committee  and  by  James  W.  Burnham,  Benjamin  Thomp- 
son, Hamilton  A.  Mathes,  William  P.  Frost,  Samuel  H.  Barnum, 
Henry  B.  Mellen,  Albert  DeMeritt,  Joseph  C.  Bartlett,  Ephraim 
Jenkins  and  John  W.  E.  Thompson,  the  town  voted  an  appropria- 
tion of  $900  to  assist  in  the  publication  of  a  History  not  to  cost 
over  $5  per  copy,  and  added  Ephraim  Jenkins  and  Joseph  W.  Coe 
to  the  above  mentioned  committee.  The  committee  had  power 
to  fill  vacancies  and  was  authorized  to  collect  material  and  secure 
the  publication  of  the  history  with  such  aid  as  they  thought 
best.  Printed  circulars  were  issued,  stating  the  scope  of  the 
proposed  history,  and  also  there  were  distributed  five  hundred  cir- 
culars full  of  questions,  especially  soliciting  genealogical  informa- 
tion. To  this  circular  there  were  but  few  replies.  In  1887  Albert 
Young  was  chosen  a  member  of  the  committee  to  take  the  place 
of  Joshua  B.  Smith  resigned.  In  1889  Hamilton  A.  Mathes  was 
chosen  to  fill  a  vacancy  caused  by  resignation  of  Joseph  W.  Coe. 
Conferences  were  held  with  the  Rev.  Alonzo  H.  Quint,  D.  D., 
and  Miss  Mary  P.  Thompson  relative  to  the  preparation  of  the 
history.  Dr.  Ham  of  Dover  offered  all  possible  assistance.  Thus 
the  records  close, — to  be  reopened  over  twenty  years  later. 

In  191 1  the  matter  was  taken  up  again.  Messrs.  Albert  De- 
Meritt, Arioch  W.  Griffiths  and  Charles  Wentworth  were  added 
to  the  committee,  in  place  of  some  who  had  resigned  or  passed 
away.  These  conferred  with  the  Rev.  Everett  S.  Stackpole, 
D.  D.,who  agreed  to  write  the  proposed  history.  In  1912  the 
town  voted  anew  to  raise  $150  for  preliminary  expenses,  and 
the  Hon.  Lucien  Thompson,  who  had  been  gathering  material 
for  a  score  of  years,  became  interested  as  associate  author  of  the 
proposed  history.  The  money  requisite  for  the  printing  of  the 
History  was  voted  by  the  town  at  its  annual  meeting,  March 
1913.  At  the  request  of  Mr.  Stackpole  the  name  of  Dea.  Win- 
throp S.  Meserve  was  added  to  the  title  page  of  the  second 
volume,  as  associate  author  of  the  genealogical  part. 


BIRTH   AND   GROWTH   OF  THE   TOWN 

All  truths,  all  facts  and  all  men  are  related.  To  know  com- 
pletely a  part  of  a  system  one  must  know  the  whole.  The  history 
of  a  town  is  woven  into  the  history  of  the  world.  To  separate  it 
is  like  tearing  off  a  piece  of  a  garment.  Since  to  know  the  whole 
is  forever  impossible,  we  must  content  ourselves  with  partial 
knowledge  and  with  probabilities.  To  understand  well  the 
history  of  Durham  one  needs  to  know  the  first  discoveries  of  the 
region  of  the  Pascataqua,  the  causes  that  led  to  its  settlement, 
the  antecedents  and  ancestry  of  the  first  settlers,  the  ends  they 
sought,  the  religious  and  political  state  of  Great  Britain  espe- 
cially at  that  time,  as  well  as  the  deeds  the  colonists  performed. 
All  this  cannot  be  unfolded  in  a  town  history.  Such  matters 
properly  belong  to  a  general  history  of  New  Hampshire,  or  of 
Maine. 

We  are  obliged  to  plunge  into  the  stream  of  history  somewhere, 
not  too  far  back,  and  to  float  down  with  the  current.  We  care 
mainly  for  men;  their  deeds  interest  us  only  as  they  show  forth 
the  character  of  the  actors  or  influence  the  lives  of  their  successors. 
When  we  know  well  and  interpret  rightly  our  antecedents,  we 
may  with  some  degree  of  safety  forecast  the  future  and  make 
wise  plans  therefor. 

The  first  settlers  left  but  few  records.  They  had  little  idea  of 
the  historic  importance  of  their  undertaking.  They  foresaw 
not  the  many  thousands  of  descendants  that  would  rejoice  to 
find  scraps  of  information  about  their  origin  in  the  old  countries 
beyond  the  great  sea.  Perhaps  many  came  as  a  temporary  ven- 
ture, thinking  to  return  home  soon.  They  stayed  either  from 
stern  necessity  or  because  they  learned  to  love  the  new  country 
and  foresaw  something  of  its  future  prospects.  They  sought  not 
so  much  religious  and  political  liberty  as  to  better  their  material 
conditions.  The  gift  of  fifty  or  one  hundred  acres  was  a  mighty 
inducement  to  many,  who  could  never  hope  to  acquire  a  small 
piece  of  land  in  any  of  the  old  countries.  The  desire  of  some 
leaders  to  found  great  manorial  estates  in  the  new  world  was 
rudely  disregarded  by  men  who  had  tasted  of  civil  and  industrial 
freedom.     We  laugh  now  at  the  folly  of  trying  to  wrest  away  by 


2  HISTORY   OF   DURHAM 

process  of  law  the  farms  of  the  first  settlers  and  restore  them  to 
the  English  heirs  of  Capt.  John  Mason.  Any  effort  to  enforce 
such  a  claim  would  have  brought  on  the  Revolution  earlier  than 
it  came.  The  King  of  England  claimed  all  the  land  discovered, 
just  as  William  the  First  claimed  and  distributed  all  the  lands  of 
England  at  the  time  of  the  Conquest.  His  grantees  could  not 
hold  them.  A  handful  of  men  got  together  and  formed  a  town 
without  any  charter  and  then  they  made  grants  of  land  to  them- 
selves and  to  others  whom  they  wished  to  join  them.  Some 
trifles  were  given  to  the  Indians  to  quiet  their  claims,  and  so  the 
lands  were  seized,  to  have  and  to  hold. 

The  fisheries,  that  had  for  rendezvous  the  Isles  of  Shoals  for 
many  years,  first  attracted  settlers  to  the  mainland.  They 
combined  fishing  with  agriculture.  The  Pascataqua  and  its 
tributaries  were  full  of  salmon  and  sturgeon,  that  gave  their 
names  to  waterfalls  and  creeks.  There  was  abundance  of  lumber 
for  ship-building  and  commerce.  The  settlers  searched  in  vain 
for  mines  of  gold  and  silver,  and  iron  ore  was  obtained  with  dif- 
ficulty in  small  quantities.  Wild  game  filled  the  forests,  and  the 
fur  trade  brought  revenues  to  some.  But  agriculture,  the  great- 
est and  most  necessary  industry  for  man,  soon  came  to  be  the 
principal  occupation,  and  swarming  children  pushed  in  further 
from  the  shores,  to  which  the  first  settlers  clung  cautiously  and 
for  the  only  means  of  communication.  Every  settler  was  almost 
of  necessity  a  boatman,  fisherman,  hunter,  carpenter,  mechanic 
and  farmer.  The  women  could  spin,  weave,  make  garments  of 
every  sort,  cook  marvelously,  and  manage  a  dairy.  Necessity 
made  the  weak  strong. 

How  much  we  would  like  to  know  the  number  and  names  of 
the  men  and  women  who  came  with  David  Thompson,  in  1623, 
from  Plymouth,  England,  to  Odiorne's  Point  and  helped  him  build 
his  fish-weir  near  a  point  of  land  a  little  south  of  the  mouth  of  the 
Cochecho  River,  which  has  ever  since  borne  his  name.  Who 
besides  Thomas  Roberts  came  with  Edward  and  William  Hilton 
from  London  to  Hilton's  Point  in  the  same  year?  What  were 
the  names  of  the  eight  Danes  and  twenty-two  women  who  came 
with  Capt.  John  Mason's  colonists  from  the  south  of  England 
to  Strawberry  Bank  and  Newichawannock  between  1631  and 
1634?  Who  were  all  those  that  came  from  Bristol  with  Capt. 
Thomas  Wiggin  to  Dover  Neck  in  1633  and  gave  the  name  Bristol 


HISTORY   OF   DURHAM  3 

to  the  little  city  they  there  attempted  to  found  ?  These  companies 
were  the  real  pioneers  of  the  Pascataqua  region.  We  know  the 
names  of  a  few  of  them;  we  are  well  convinced  that  certain 
others  must  have  been  among  them.  Of  Capt.  John  Mason's 
company  Ambrose  Gibbons,  Francis  Matthews,  John  Ault,  and 
John  Goddard  settled  in  Oyster  River  Plantation,  while  James 
Nute  lived  on  the  west  side  of  Back  River,  within  the  present 
limits  of  Dover.  Among  the  companions  of  Capt.  Thomas 
Wiggin  were  probably  Elder _Hatevil  Nutter,  Richard  Pinkham, 
Thomas  Leigh  ton,  Richard  York,  William  Williams,  William 
Beard,  Thomas  Beard,  Thomas  Stevenson,  Samuel  Haines, 
John  Heard,  John  Dam,  George  Webb,  Philip  Chesley,  William 
Pomfret,  William  Storer,  Thomas  Canney,  Henry  Tibbetts, 
George  Walton,  William  Furber,  and  the  Rev.  William  Leveridge. 
At  least  all  these  lived  on  Dover  Neck  within  a  few  years  of 
Capt.  Wiggin 's  arrival,  and  they  were  joined  not  long  after  by 
Anthony  Emery  from  Newbury,  Joseph  Austin  from  Hampton, 
John  Tuttle  who  came  in  the  Angel  Gabriel,  Job  Clement  from 
Haverhill,  Ralph  Hall,  John  Hall,  Philip  Cromwell,  "Mr.  David 
Ludecas  Edling,"  Capt.  John  Underhill  and  the  Rev.  John 
Reyner. 

It  seems  to  have  been  the  design  of  Capt.  W7iggin  to  found  a 
city  or  compact  town  on  the  hill-top  of  Dover  Neck,  giving  to 
each  settler  three  and  a  half  or  four  acres  for  a  home  lot,  while 
out  lots  or  farms  and  pieces  of  marsh  were  assigned  on  the  shores 
of  Little  and  Great  Bays  and  their  tributaries,  which  they  could 
easily  reach  by  boat.  Probably  this  was  thought  necessary  at 
first  for  mutual  defence,  as  well  as  to  avoid  insufferable  loneliness. 
After  land  had  been  cleared  and  log  houses  built  and  flocks  and 
herds  began  to  multiply,  it  became  quite  necessary  to  quit  Dover 
Neck  and  remain  permanently  on  the  farms.  Thus  by  the  year 
1640  much  of  the  best  land  along  the  shores  and  up  to  the  head 
of  salt  water  in  the  Shankhassick,  as  the  Indians  called  Oyster 
River,  was  in  the  recognized  possession  of  settlers,  and  clearing 
had  well  begun.  The  first  comers  got  the  best  land.  To  him  that 
had  was  given.  Big  grants  went  to  the  big  men,  and  some  fami- 
lies soon  became  prominent  because  their  emigrant  ancestor  was 
fortunate  enough  to  get  possession  of  fertile  land  easily  cultivated, 
while  those  who  settled  on  poor  and  rocky  soil  and  stayed  there 
remained  poor  and  of  little  account. 


4  HISTORY    OF    DURHAM 

There  were  from  the  very  beginning  some  order  and  recognized 
authority.  There  is  no  reason  to  suppose  that  Capt.  Wiggin 
allotted  lands,  or  that  he  was  in  any  sense  a  Governor.  He  was 
the  agent  of  a  land  company,  and  Ambrose  Gibbons  was  as 
much  a  Governor  of  Maine  as  Capt.  Thomas  Wiggin  was  of 
New  Hampshire.  The  company  under  the  leadership  of  Capt. 
Wiggin  were  in  effect  from  the  start  a  democratic  republic  and 
regulated  their  own  internal  affairs  much  as  the  Pilgrims  did  at 
Plymouth.  They  assumed  to  be  a  town  and  did  the  chief  busi- 
ness of  a  town  at  that  time  by  granting  lots  and  purchasing  lands 


Shankhassick,  or  Oyster  River 

of  the  Indians.  William  Hilton,  in  1641,  sold  land  that  had 
been  granted  to  him  by  the  inhabitants  of  Dover.  This  was  at 
the  head  of  Oyster  River.  "The  inhabitants  of  Dover  alias 
Northam"  granted  land  to  the  Rev.  Thomas  Larkham  between 
the  years  1639  and  1642.  Darby  Field  was  in  quiet  possession 
of  Oyster  River  Point  earlier  than  1639.  Ambrose  Gibbons, 
Thomas  Stevenson,  William  Williams  and  William  Beard,  all 
of  Oyster  River,  had  lands  assigned  to  them  by  common  consent 
before  1640.  On  the  18th  of  the  8th  month,  1652,  John  Ault 
made  a  deposition  as  follows: 

The  deponent  sayth  that  in  the  yere  1635,  that  the  land  about  Lamprile 
River  was  bought  of  the  Indians  &  made  use  of  by  the  men  of  Dover  &  myselfe 
both  for  planting  &  fishing  &  feling  of  Timber. 


HISTORY   OF   DURHAM  5 

John  Ault  and  Richard  York  made  oath  to  this  statement 
before  George  Smyth,  and  to  similar  effect  testified  Hatevil 
Nutter  and  William  Furber.  See  depositions  in  N.  H.  Prov- 
ince Papers,  Vol.  I,  p.  204.  The  original  depositions  may  be 
seen  in  the  archives  of  Massachusetts,  1 12-14. 

In  the  above  statements  "the  men  of  Dover"  and  "the  inhabi- 
tants of  Dover"  are  mentioned  collectively  as  having  power  to 
purchase  lands  of  the  Indians  and  to  grant  lands  to  individuals 
as  early  as  1635.  This  was  the  beginning  of  town  business,  though 
it  was  not  till  1648  that  they  assumed  to  assess  rates  and  became 
a  full-fledged  town. 

The  Exeter  Combination  of  1639  was  signed  by  two  men  of 
Oyster  River,  namely,  Darby  Field  and  Francis  Matthews,  and 
it  is  noticeable  that  these  did  not  sign  the  Dover  Combination  of 
the  following  year.  Indeed,  none  of  the  settlers  at  Oyster  River 
signed  that  compact.  It  has  been  called  Dover's  Magna  Charta 
rather  inappropriately,  since  it  was  no  concession  wrung  from  a 
reluctant  king,  but  a  voluntary  agreement  of  forty-two  inhabi- 
tants of  Dover  Neck,  Cochecho  and  what  was  afterward  Newing- 
ton.  It  is  a  formal  statement  of  what  had  been  informally  agreed 
to  from  the  beginning  of  the  settlement  of  Capt.  Wiggin  and 
company  on  Dover  Neck,  in  1633.  If  "two  or  more  persons 
banded  together  to  do  good  make  a  church,"  as  I  once  heard  a 
Canon  of  the  Church  of  England  publicly  declare,  then  two  or 
more  settlers  in  a  new  country  banded  together  for  mutual  pro- 
tection and  self-government  make  a  town,  and  such  a  church  and 
such  a  town  need  no  higher  authorization.  The  Combination 
was  as  follows : 

Whereas  sundry  mischeifes  and  inconveniences  have  befaln  us,  and  more 
and  greater  may  in  regard  of  want  of  civill  Government,  his  Gratious  Ma'tie 
haveing  hitherto  setled  no  order  for  us  to  our  knowledge: 

Wee  whose  names  are  underwritten  being  Inhabitants  upon  the  river  Pas- 
cataquack  have  voluntarily  agreed  to  combine  ourselves  into  a  body  politique 
that  we  may  the  more  comfortably  enjoy  the  benefit  of  his  Ma'ties  Lawes 
together  with  all  such  Orders  as  shal  bee  concluded  by  a  major  part  of  the 
Freemen  of  our  Society  in  case  they  bee  not  repugnant  to  the  Lawes  of  England 
and  administered  in  the  behalf  of  his  Majesty. 

And  this  wee  have  mutually  promised  and  concluded  to  do  and  so  to  continue 
till  his  Excellent  Ma'tie  shall  give  other  Order  concerning  us.  In  Witness 
whereof  wee  have  hereto  set  our  hands  the  two  and  twentieth  day  of  October 
in  the  sixteenth  yeare  of  our  Sovereign  Lord  Charles  by  the  grace  of  God  King 


6  HISTORY    OF   DURHAM 

of  Great  Britain  France  and  Ireland  Defender  of  the  Faith  &c.     Annoq  Dom. 

1640. 

John  Follet  Thom.  Larkham 

Robert  Nanney  Richard  Waldern 

William  Jones  William  Waldern 

Phillip  Swaddon  William  Storer 

Richard   Pinckhame  William  Furber 

Bartholomew  Hunt  Thos.  Layton 

William  Bowden  Tho.   Roberts 

John  Wastill  Bartholomew  Smith 

John  Heard  Samuel  Haines 

John  Hall  John  Underhill 

Abel  Camond  Peter  Garland 

Henry  Beck  John  Dam 

Robert  Huggins  Steven  Teddar 

Fran:  Champernoon  John  Ugroufe 

Hansed  Knowles  Thomas  Canning 

Edward  Colcord  John  Phillips 

Henry  Lahorn  Tho:  Dunstar 

Edward  Starr  James  Nute 

Anthony  Emery  Richard  Laham 

William  Pomfret  John  Cross 

George  Webb  James  Rawlins 

The  original  of  the  above  is  in  the  Record  Office  at  London. 
The  clerk  in  copying  may  have  made  some  mistakes.  Edward 
Starr  is  doubtless  Elder  Edward  Starbuck.  Tho:  Dunstar  is 
probably  Thomas  Dustin,  afterward  of  Kittery,  whose  son 
Thomas  lived  in  Haverhill.  Thomas  Canning  is  Thomas  Canney. 
Henry  Lahorn  may  be  Henry  Langstaff.  Hansed  Knowles  is 
the  Rev.  Hansard  Knollys. 

Why  did  no  man  in  Oyster  River  Plantation  sign  that  Combina- 
tion? Already  that  section  of  ancient  Dover  began  to  feel  itself 
separate  from  and  independent  of  the  rest  of  the  town.  It  was 
geographically  distinct  and  soon  began  to  clamor  for  parish  and 
township  rights.     Local  convenience  made  this  almost  a  necessity. 

In  the  above  Combination  no  name  is  given  to  the  town.  It 
was  yet  undecided  whether  it  should  be  called  Bristol,  Northam 
or  Dover.     The  last  name  became  fixed  about  the  year  1642. 

There  is  another  reason  why  nobody  from  Oyster  River  signed 
the  so-called  Dover  Combination.  At  this  time  the  inhabitants 
of  Exeter  were  claiming  that  the  northern  limit  of  their  town  was 
the  Oyster  River  or  a  mile  beyond,  by  virtue  of  a  deed  obtained 
by  Parson  Wheelwright  from  an  Indian  chief.     In  the  first  allot- 


HISTORY   OF   DURHAM  7 

ment  of  land  in  Exeter,  December  1639,  it  was  declared  that  the 
meadows  "from  Lamprey  river  to  the  head  of  Little  Bay  should 
be  equally  apportioned  into  four  parts."  This  is  all  the  region 
of  Durham  afterward  known  as  Lubberland.  Under  date  of 
12  November,  1640,  it  is  recorded  in  Exeter  thus: 

It  is  agreed  upon  y*  Mr.  William  Hilton  is  to  enjoy  those  two  marshes  in 
Oyster  River  w<=i>  formerly  he  hath  possession  of  &  still  are  in  his  possession 
and  the  other  marsh  w°>>  Mr.  Gibbies  [Ambrose  Gibbons]  doth  wrongfully 
detayne  from  him  with  the  rest  of  those  marshes  w«h  formerly  he  hath  made 
use  of  soe  far  forth  as  they  may  be  for  the  publique  good  of  this  plantation,  and 
so  much  of  the  upland  (adjoining)  to  them  as  shall  be  thought  convenient  by 
the  neighbores  of  Oyster  River,  w<=h  are  belonging  to  this  body. 

This  must  refer  to  William  Hilton's  eighty-eight  acres  at  the 
head  of  salt  water  in  Oyster  River,  where  the  public  school 
building  in  Durham  now  stands,  and  to  the  two  hundred  acres 
belonging  to  Ambrose  Gibbons,  that  formed  later  the  Burnham 
farm,  on  the  south  side  of  the  river.  The  inhabitants  of  Oyster 
River  were  wavering  between  allegiance  to  the  Exeter  Combina- 
tion, that  two  of  their  number  had  signed,  and  to  the  so-called 
Dover  Combination.  Commissioners  decided  that  the  southern 
limit  of  Dover  extended  down  to  Lamprey  River.  The  boundary 
was  long  disputed.     [See  Bell's  History  of  Exeter.] 

In  1652  the  Commissioners  appointed  to  determine  the  bounds 
of  Dover  reported  that 

They  have  thus  agreed  that  the  uttmost  bound  on  the  west  is  a  creek  on  the 
east  side  of  Lamprell  river,  the  next  creek  to  the  river,  and  from  the  end  of  that 
creek  to  lamprell  river  first  fall  and  so  from  the  first  fall  on  a  west  and  by  north 
line  six  miles, 

from  nequittchewannock  first  fall  on  a  north  and  by  west  line  fower  miles, 

from  a  creeke  next  below  Thomas  Cannes  his  house  to  a  certaine  Cove 

near  the  mouth  of  the  Great  Bay  called  hogsty  cove  and  all  the  marsh  and 

meadow  lying  and  butting  on  the  great  bay  with  convenient  byland  to  sett 

there  hay.     Mass.  Archives,  112.  53 

John  Alt,  "aged  about  seventy-three  years,"  deposed,  2  March 
1677/8,  that  Robert  Smart,  senior,  of  Exeter  did  own  and  possess 
all  the  meadow  on  the  southwest  side  of  John  Goddard's  Creek 
"and  ye  said  Smart  did  possess  it  twelve  years  before  Dover  was 
a  township  and  he  did  possess  it  sixteen  years  together."  How 
shall  this  be  interpreted?  When  did  Dover  become  a  township? 
According  to  this  deposition  it  was  not  in  1640,  the  time  of  the 
Combination,  for  twelve  years  before  that  date  would  carry  us 


8  HISTORY   OF   DURHAM 

back  to  1628,  some  years  before  John  Ault  arrived  in  Dover,  or 
Robert  Smart  in  Exeter.  The  latter  was  a  resident  of  Hingham, 
Mass.,  in  September,  1635, and  probably  came  the  following  year  to 
that  part  of  Exeter  which  is  now  Newmarket.  He  needed  marsh 
grass  for  his  cattle  and  so  took  it  where  he  could  find  it  most  con- 
veniently. Twelve  years  after  his  arrival,  that  is,  in  1648,  the 
first  taxes  were  levied,  according  to  an  order  of  Court  at  Boston. 
Was  the  authority  of  the  Town  of  Dover  then  first  recognized  by 
the  inhabitants  of  Oyster  River  Plantation,  among  whom  was 
John  Ault?  There  are  certainly  records  which  speak  of  the  town 
of  Dover  as  early  as  1642,  but  then  Oyster  River  Plantation  was 
debatable  land.  Selectmen  were  chosen  in  1647  and  Ambrose 
Gibbons  of  Oyster  River  was  one  of  them. 

In  1639  a  committee  of  three  persons  from  Dover  appeared  at 
the  General  Court  in  Boston,  proposing  that  Dover  come  under 
the  jurisdiction  of  Massachusetts.  Their  offer  was  eagerly 
accepted  and  the  terms  were  all  that  Dover  desired.  They  were 
to  have  their  own  court  at  Dover  like  the  courts  at  Salem  and 
Ipswich ;  they  were  "exempted  from  all  public  charges  other  than 
those  that  shall  arise  among  themselves  or  from  any  occasion  or 
Course  that  may  be  taken  to  promote  their  own  proper  good  and 
benefit " ;  they  were  to  have  all  the  privileges  of  towns,  and  church 
membership  was  not  required  to  make  inhabitants  freemen, 
though  this  was  the  rule  in  Massachusetts.  In  fact  the  General 
Court  granted  everything  for  mere  supremacy.  May  10,  1643, 
the  County  of  Norfolk  was  formed,  with  Salisbury  as  the  shire 
town.  Sessions  of  the  court  were  held  annually  at  Dover,  and 
the  records  of  the  same  are  now  at  Concord,  N.  H.  Norfolk 
County  ceased  to  exist  8  September,  1679,  when  the  territory 
lying  between  Massachusetts  and  Maine  was  made  a  separate 
royal  province,  in  order  to  try  the  claims  of  Capt.  John  Mason's 
heirs  to  the  improved  lands  of  New  Hampshire  farmers.  The 
claims  seem  to  us  ridiculous  but  were  founded  upon  laws  made  for 
the  benefit  of  the  privileged  class.  The  courts  allowed  the 
claims,  but  the  attempt  to  collect  rents  was  unsuccessful.  Some 
Oyster  River  settlers  were  by  legal  process  dispossessed  of  their 
estates,  but  practically  they  continued  to  possess  them  and  to 
transmit  them  to  their  heirs. 

Whatever  records  once  existed  of  town  proceedings  in  Dover 
until  1648  have  been  lost,  except  a  few  unimportant  leaves.     In 


HISTORY   OF    DURHAM 


1647  William  Pomfret  was  chosen  recorder,  or  as  we  now  say 
town  clerk,  and  thereafter  the  records  are  of  great  historical 
importance.  "Dicesimo  Septimo  die  iomo,  1647,  it  was  ordered 
concluded  and  agreed  upon  that  the  inhabitants  of  Dover  should 
condescend  unto  a  form  of  levying  rates  and  assessments  for 
raising  of  public  charges  according  to  an  order  of  court  made  and 
held  at  Boston."  Funds  for  the  ministry  and  other  public  ex- 
penses must  have  been  raised  before  that  time  by  voluntary  con- 
tributions. We  have  the  first  rate  list,  which  has  been  repeatedly 
published.  We  here  copy  only  the  names  of  those  who  lived  in 
Oyster  River  Plantation. 

The  Towne  Rate  Made  the  19th  10th  mo  [16]  48. 

£     5.   d.  £     s.   d. 

George  Webb,  Rated  0046  :oo  :oo 

and  to  pay  4d  p£  is  0000:12:08 

John  Goddard,  Rated  0129:10:00 

and  to  pay  4d  p£  is  0002:02:02 

Richard  Yorke,  Rated  0072:08:00 

and  to  pay  4d  p£  is  0001 104:00 

Ambrose  Gibbons,  Rated  0086:00:00 

and  to  pay  4d  p£  is  0001  :o8:oo 

Willm  Beard,  Rated  0076:10:00 

and  to  pay  4d  p£  is  0001  :o5:o6 

Tho:  Stephenson,  Rated  0050:00:00 

and  to  pay  4d  p£  is  0000:16:04 

William  Drue,  Rated  0070:00:00 

and  to  pay  4d  p£  is  0001  ^3:04 

Matthew  Gyles,  Rated  0194:10:00 

and  to  pay  4d  p£  is  0003:03:02 

Mrs  Matthews   Rated  0139:10:00 

and  to  pay  4d  p£  is  0002:03:02 

Jonas  Binns,  Rated  0042:00:00 

and  to  pay  4d  p£  is  0000:14:04 

Charles  Adams,  Rated  0031:00:00 

and  to  pay  4d  p£  is  0000:10:04 

John  Bickford,  Rated  0115:10:00 

and  to  pay  4d  p£  is  0001  :i8:o6 

Philip  Chasely,  Rated  0078:10:00 

and  to  pay  4d  p£  is  0001  :o6:o6 

Tho :  Willey,  Rated  007 1 : 1  o  :oo 

and  to  pay  4d  p£  is  0001  =03:06 

John  Allt,  Rated  0069:00:00 

and  to  pay  4d  p£  is  0001 :03:oo 

Darby  ffeild,  Rated  0081:00:00 

and  to  pay  4d  p£  is  0001  :o7:oo 


10 


HISTORY    OF   DURHAM 


Oliuer  Kent,  Rated 

and  to  pay  4d  p£  is 
Tho:  Johnson,  Rated 

and  to  pay  4d  p£  is 
Geo:Branson,  Rated 

and  to  pay  4d  p£  is 
Willm  Roberts,  Rated 

and  to  pay  4d  p£  is 
Tho:  ffootman,  Rated 

and  to  pay  4d  p£  is 
John  Martin,  Rated 

and  to  pay  4d  p£  is 


£     s.   d. 
0070:10:00 

0040  :oo  :oo 

0030  :oo  :oo 

0046 : 1  o  :oo 

0060:00:00 

0041:10:00 


£  s.  d. 
0000:011  4 
0000:13:04 
0000:10:00 
0000:15:02 
0001  :oo:oo 
0000:13:10 


This  Rate  within  specified  Is  to  bee  paid  in  such  commodities,  time  and 
place,  as  followeth,  viz'.  One  fourth  part  in  Corne,  to  bee  pd  and  brought  in 
at  the  rates  as  followes  viz'.  Indian  Corne  at  4s  p  bushell,  wheat  and  pease 
at  5s  p  bushell,  and  to  bee  paid  by  the  io'h  day  of  the  next  m°  at  the  house  of 
Wm  Pomfrett  and  the  rest  of  the  rate  to  bee  pd  in  by  the  io">  day  of  March 
next  ensueing  at  the  saw  pitt  below  Tho.  Cannys,  for  one  place  of  receipt,  for 
part  of  the  said  rate,  and  the  other  to  bee  paid  in  at  the  back  Cove,  to  the 
Constable  or  his  Assignes.  All  pipe  staues  are  to  bee  delivded  in  at  the  rate 
of  3:10:0,  and  hh  staues  at  02:05:0.  And  for  default  of  paym'  in  either  or 
eny  of  the  said  paym"  in  p*  or  in  all  contrary  to  the  forme  aforesaid  Wee  doe 
hereby  authorize  and  giue  vnto  the  Constable  full  pow  to  arrest  and  attach 
the  goods  of  such  pson  or  psons  as  shall  make  denyall.  Witnes  or  hands,  this 
19th  day  of  io'h  m«  1648. 

Ambrose  Gibbons 
Hatevill  Nutter 
William  Pomfrett 
Anth»  Emerey 
Tho:  Layton. 

This  list  shows  that  twenty-three  out  of  fifty-three  inhabitants 
of  Dover  lived  at  Oyster  River.  The  next  year  two  new  names 
appear  at  Oyster  River,  John  Hill  and  William  Follett,  and  in 
1650  we  first  find  the  names  of  Rise  Howell  and  Mr.  Valentine 
Hill. 

The  following  first  appear  in  the  rate  list  of  1657,  Ed  Patterson, 
John  Meader,  Patrick  the  Scot  [Patrick  Jameson],  Robert  Burn- 
ham,  William  Williams,  James  Bunker,  Robert  Junkins,  Mathew 
Williams,  Richard  Bray,  John  Davis,  John  Woodman,  Joseph 
Field,  William  Pitman,  and  John  Hance. 

In  the  rate  list  of  1659  appear  the  following  new  names,  Thomas 
Humphrey,  William  Graves,  James  Jackson,  Walter  Jackson, 
Henry  Browne,  Thomas  Doughty,  James  Oer,  James  Middleton, 


HISTORY    OF   DURHAM  II 

Edwin  Arwin,  John  Barber,  Benjamin  Matthews,  Benjamin 
Hull,  John  Diuill,  William  Jones,  and  Steven  ye  Westingman 
(?)  which  may  mean  either  Stephen  Jones  or  Stephen  Robinson, 
both  of  whom  appeared  about  that  time. 

In  1661  we  first  find  Hugh  Dunn,  Alexander  McDaniel,  Henry 
Hollwell  or  Halloway,  Teague  Riall  or  Royall,  Joseph  Smith,  and 
Davey  Daniel. 

In  1662  the  list  shows  the  new  names  of  Philip  Cromwell  or 
Crommett,  William  Perkinson  or  Perkins,  James  Smith  and 
John  Smith. 

In  1663  appear  Thomas  Morris  and  Patrick  Denmark.  Wil- 
liam Durgin  was  first  taxed  in  1664. 

In  1666  we  find  Nicholas  Harris,  Robert  Watson,  Joseph 
Stimson  or  Stevenson,  Salathiel  Denbo,  Arthur  Bennet,  Thomas 
Edgerly,  Abraham  Collens,  Zachariah  Field,  Michael  Simmons, 
James  Huckins,  Edward  Leathers  and  Thomas  Chesley. 

In  1681  appear  as  new  names,  Samuel  Burnham,  Dennis 
Bryant,  Jerimie  Crommet,  Abraham  Clarke,  John  Davis,  junior, 
Nicholas  Doe,  James  Derry,  John  Derry,  Nicholas  Follett, 
George  Goe,  Joseph  Hill,  Samuel  Hill,  Charles  Landeau,  Joseph 
Kent,  Nathaniel  Lumocks  [Lamos],  John  Meader,  junior,  John 
Mickmord  [Muchmore?]  John  Pinder,  John  Rand,  John  Simons, 
Robert  Smart,  junior,  Edward  Small,  Bartholomew  Stevenson, 
William  Tasket  or  Tasker,  James  Thomas,  John  Tompson, 
William  Williams,  junior,  John  Willie,  Stephen  Willie,  and  John 
Yorke. 

In  1682  we  notice  David  Davis,  Nicholas  Dunn,  Nathaniel 
Hill,  William  Hill,  William  Hucklie,  William  Jonson,  Ezekiel 
Pitman,  Francis  Pitman,  Roger  Rose,  Joseph  Stevenson. 

This  is  not  the  place  to  enter  into  details  concerning  the  troubles 
of  New  Hampshire  with  Massachusetts,  with  the  heirs  of  Capt. 
John  Mason,  and  with  the  Cranfield  administration.  The 
following  brief  citation  from  an  article  in  the  Granite  Monthly 
of  February  1902,  written  by  the  Hon.  Frank  B.  Sanborn  of 
Concord,  Mass.,  sufficiently  sets  forth  the  part  Oyster  River  had 
in  those  affairs.  Robert  Burnham,  who  was  born  at  Norwich, 
England,  in  1624  and  married  in  Boston  in  1646  or  earlier  "was 
in  1664  a  petitioner  to  King  Charles  for  a  separation  from  Massa- 
chusetts and  appears  to  have  been  then  a  Church  of  England 
man;  but  in  1684  he  refused  to  pay  Mason  his  quit-rents  and  was 


12  HISTORY   OF    DURHAM 

nominally  ejected  by  Mason  from  his  farm  in  Durham.  More- 
over, at  the  time  of  Monmouth's  rebellion  and  after  the  death  of 
Charles  II  it  was  testified  by  Philip  Chesley  of  Dover,  April  26, 
1685,  'that  he  heard  Robert  Burnham  of  Oyster  River  say  there 
was  no  speaking  treason  at  present  against  the  king,  for  there  was 
no  king,  and  that  the  Duke  of  Monmouth  was  proclaimed  and 
crowned  in  Scotland  and  gone  for  Ireland,  and  that  the  Duke  of 
York  was  not  yet  crowned,  and  it  was  a  question  whether  he  ever 
would  be.'  In  1665  Burnham  had  joined  with  Champernoon 
and  John  Pickering  of  Portsmouth,  and  Edward  Hilton  and  John 
Folsom  of  Exeter  in  petitioning  that  King  Charles  'would  take 
them  under  his  immediate  protection  and  that  they  might  be 
governed  by  the  known  laws  of  England,'  and  one  reason  for 
this  request  was  'that  they  might  enjoy  both  the  sacraments, 
which  they  have  been  so  long  deprived  of.'  In  1684  he  joined 
with  the  YYaldrons,  Wiggins,  Sanborns,  etc.,  in  petitioning  against 
the  exactions  of  Cranfield  and  Mason,  and  among  his  fellow- 
petitioners  was  Joseph  Stevenson  of  Oyster  River,  who  said,  not 
long  after,  'I  owe  the  governor  nothing,  and  nothing  will  I  pay 
him ;   I  never  knew  him,  nor  had  any  dealings  with  him. 

Exasperated  by  the  arbitrary  methods  of  Cranfield  the  people 
of  Exeter,  Hampton,  Portsmouth  and  Dover  decided  to  make 
complaint  to  the  king,  and  Nathaniel  Weare  of  Hampton  was 
appointed  their  agent  and  sent  to  England  in  1685.  In  the 
petition  that  he  carried  from  Dover  are  found  the  following 
Oyster  River  names,  John  Meader,  Philip  Chesley,  Joseph  Steven- 
son, Thomas  Chesley,  Stephen  Jones,  Edward  Small,  Nathaniel 
Lamos,  James  Huckins,  Zacharias  Field,  Robert  Burnham, 
Samuel  Burnham,  Jeremiah  Burnham,  Samuel  Hill,  Peter  Mason, 
John  Woodman,  senior,  John  Woodman,  junior,  Jonathan  Wood- 
man, John  Davis,  senior,  John  Davis,  junior,  Joseph  Field,  John 
Bickford,  Thomas  Edgerly,  John  Hill,  Charles  Adams,  Charles 
Adams  junior,  William  Parkinson  [Perkins],  Joseph  Hill  and 
Nathaniel  Hill.     [See  N.  H.  Province  Papers,  Vol.  I,  p.  561.] 

It  is  worthy  of  note  that  during  Cranfield's  administration 
the  Rev.  Joshua  Moody  was  tried  at  the  Quarter  Sessions  before 
Capt.  Walter  Barefoot,  Nathaniel  Fryer,  Henry  Green,  Peter 
Coffin,  Henry  Robie  and  Thomas  Edgerly,  the  last  being  a  well 
known  name  of  Oyster  River.  The  justices  debated  a  little; 
four  of  them  entered  their  dissent,  viz.,   Messrs   Frver,   Green, 


HISTORY   OF    DURHAM  1 3 

Robie  and  Edgerly;  but  Barefoot  and  Coffin  were  for  Mr. 
Moody's  condemnation.  In  the  morning,  after  outside  influ- 
ences had  been  used,  Green  and  Robie  consented  to  his  condem- 
nation. Justice  Edgerly  was  cashiered  and  bound  over  to  the 
Quarterly  Sessions.  By  the  governor's  order  he  was  discharged 
from  being  Justice  of  the  Peace  and  from  being  in  any  other 
public  employment.  In  the  records  of  the  Quarter  Sessions 
the  Clerk  of  the  Court  gave  the  substance  of  the  debate  as  follows : 
"Justice  Edgerly — that  since  his  Majesty  has  been  pleased  to 
grant  liberty  of  conscience  to  all  Protestants  here,  the  said  Moody 
is  not  liable  to  the  penalty  of  the  statutes  for  refusing  to  admin- 
ister the  sacraments  according  to  the  form  thereof." 

A  petition  dated  20  February,  1689/90,  was  addressed  to  the 
Massachusetts  authorities  by  the  inhabitants  and  train  soldiers 
of  New  Hampshire,  requesting  that  they  might  be  taken  under 
the  government  and  protection  of  Massachusetts  Among  the 
petitioners  are  the  following  names  of  men  then  residing  at 
Oyster  River.  Those  followed  by  a  cross  thus  X  made  their 
mark.  Philip  Duday  X,  James  Thomas  X  William  Perkins  X, 
Steven  Robeson,  Francis  Pitman,  Robert  Burnam,  Jeremiah 
Burnum,  John  Buss,  Joseph  Meder  X,  John  Meder  junior, 
Stephen  Willey  X  Joseph  Davis  Moses  Davis,  Thomas  Bick- 
ford,  Charles  Adams,  C.  A.  his  mark,  Benjamin  Mathews  X, 
John  Bunker  X,  Joseph  Kent,  Salathiel  Denbow  X,  William 
Durgin  by  order,  John  Bickford,  John  Davis,  James  Smith, 
Nathaniel  Hill,  John  Woodman,  Thomas  Edgerly,  Zacharias 
Field,  Thomas  Chesley,  Philip  Chesle,  Robert  Watson,  Stephen 
Jones,  Thomas  Arsh  X  [Ash],  Edward  Lethers  X,  Philip  Ches- 
ley X,  John  Pitman,  James  Derry  X,  John  Davis  junior,  Samuel 
Burnum,  Thomas  Davis  X,  and  William  Pitman. — [N.  H.  Prov- 
ince Papers,  Vol.  II,  pp.  34-39.] 

The  fruitless  petition  of  Oyster  River  in  1669  to  the  General 
Court  of  Massachusetts  may  be  seen  in  the  chapter  on  Church 
History.  Another  petition  was  made  to  the  General  Court  of 
New  Hampshire  in  1695,  asking  that  Oyster  River  be  made  a 
township. 

To  the  Honbie  John- Usher  Esqr.,  Leut.  Governor,  Comanch  in  Chief  of  his 
Majes"  Province  of  New  Hampshire  and  to  the  Hon"8  Councill, 

Wee  the  Subscribers,  Inhabitants  of  Oyster  River,  Humbly  Petition 
and  Pray 


H 


HISTORY   OF   DURHAM 


That  whereas  his  most  Sacred  Majesty  King  William  has  been  pleased 
through  his  grace  and  favor  to  grant  unto  yor  Hon"  by  his  Royall  Comission 
with  y  Councill  full  powers  and  authorities  to  Erect  and  Establish  Townes 
within  this  his  Majesties  Province,  and  whereas  wee  yor  petitioners  have  by 
divine  providence  Settled  and  inhabited  that  Part  of  his  Majes"  Province 
Commonly  called  Oyster  Riuer,  and  have  found  that  by  the  Scituation  of 
the  place  as  to  distance  from  Douer  or  Exeter,  but  more  especially  Douer, 
wee  being  forced  to  wander  through  the  Woods  to  y*  place  to  meet  to  and 
for  ye  Management  of  our  affaires  are  much  Disadvantaged  for  y«  Present 
in  our  Business  and  Estates,  and  hindered  of  adding  a  Town  &  People  for 
the  Honr  of  his  Majesty  in  the  Inlargement  and  Increase  of  his  Province, 
Wee  humbly  supplicate  that  yor  Hon"  would  take  it  to  yor  Consideration 
and  Grant  that  wee  may  have  a  Township  Confirmed  by  yc  honours,  w°h 
wee  humbly  offer  the  bounds  thereof  may  extend  as  followeth,  to  begin  at  the 
head  of  Rialls  his  Cove  and  so  to  run  upon  a  North  west  line  Seven  Miles, 
and  from  thence  with  Douer  line  Paralell  until  wee  meet  with  Exeter  line 
that  yor  Hon"  would  be  pleased  to  grant  this  Petition,  which  will  not  only 
be  a  great  benefit  Both  to  the  settlement  of  our  minestrey,  the  population  of 
the  place,  the  ease  of  the  Subject,  and  the  Strengthening  and  Advantaging 
this  his  Majis"  Province,  but  for  an  engagement  for  yor  Petitioners  ever  to 
pray  for  the  Safety  and  Increase  of  yor  Hon"  and  prosperity. 


John  Woodman 
Stephen  Jones 

Davis  X 

Samson  Doe 
James  Bunker  Sen  X 
Jeremiah  Cromet 
James  durgin  X 
William  willyoums 
Elias  Critchett 
Nathaniell  Meder 
John  Cromell 
Jeremiah  Burnum 
John  Smith 
Thomas  Bickford 
John  Pinder 
francis  mathes 
Henry  Nock 
John  Willey 
Thomas  Edgerly 
Edward  Leathers  X 
Henry  marsh 
Joseph  Meder 
Edward  Wakeham 
Philip  Chastlie  Sin 
Thomas  Chastlie  Jun 
George  Chastlie 


William  Jackson 

Joseph  Bunker 

John  Smith 

Joseph  Jones 

John  Doe 

John  Williams 

Thomas  Williams 

William  durgin  X 

Henry  Vines  (?) 

Philup  Cromel  X 

John  Meder  Jr. 

William  tascet  X  [Tasker] 

James  dere  [Derry] 

philip  duly  X 

Ele  meret  [Eli  Demeritt] 

Joseph  Jengens 

Jems  Bonker  X 

James  Thomas 

Pitman 

John  Edgerly 
William  durgin  X 
Joseph  Smith 
Thomas  Wille 
Thomas  Chastlie 
francis  Pitman 


HISTORY   OF   DURHAM  15 

This  petition  as  printed  in  the  Memoranda  of  Ancient  Dover 
has  been  compared  with  the  same  as  found  in  N.  H.  Town 
Papers,  Vol.  IX,  p.  234,  and  appears  to  be  more  correct,  espe- 
cially as  to  names  of  inhabitants. 

Nothing  resulted  from  this  petition,  and  the  thought  of 
making  Oyster  River  a  separate  township  passed  out  of  mind 
for  more  than  a  generation.  The  rights  of  an  independent  parish, 
secured  in  17161,  satisfied  the  inhabitants  for  a  time,  and  the 
dispute  between  the  people  at  the  Point  and  those  at  the  Falls 
and  the  western  part  of  the  parish  concerning  the  location  of 
the  meeting  house  engaged  attention  for  a  long  time.  In  1729 
a  dispute  arose  about  the  division  line  between  Oyster  River 
Parish  and  the  rest  of  Dover,  and  a  committee  was  appointed  by 
the  General  Assembly  to  run  the  line.  Parties  living  near  the 
border  desired  to  be  included  in  the  Oyster  River  precinct, 
where  they  had  considered  themselves  as  belonging  and  where 
it  was  more  convenient  for  them  to  attend  church.  The  follow- 
ing petition  of  "sundry  aggrieved  inhabitants  of  Oyster  River" 
best  explains  the  situation . 

To  the  Honorable  John  Wintworth  Esq'  Lieu'  Governor  and  Commander 
in  Chief  in  and  over  his  Majte«  Province  of  New  Hampshire  in  New  England 
and  to  the  Honorable  his  Majs'e»  Council  and  Representatives  for  said 
province. 

The  Humble  Petition  of  Sundry  aggrieved  Inhabitants  of  the  parish  of 
Oyster  River  most  humbly  Sheweth  Whereas  we  the  Subscribers  in  Habitance 
of  said  parish  Have  allways  been  Constant  hearers  and  Paid  our  Rats  to  the 
Minister  of  said  Parish  as  by  the  Rait  List  of  assessment  Will  make  appear 
and  Likewise  Sundry  of  us  have  Been  at  a  Consederabel  Charge  in  Bulding 
a  Meating  House  in  said  parish  it  being  Nier  and  more  Convenent  for  us 
to  attend  upon  the  Publick  Worship  of  God  at  Oyster  River  Meeting  House 
then  at  Cochecho  Meeting  House  which  is  a  great  way  further  for  us  to  go  tho 
Never  the  Less  as  we  understand  we  are  in  Danger  of  Being  Excluded  from 
our  said  Priviledges  by  such  an  Unequal  Line  of  Boundary  between  the 
parish  of  Oyster  River  and  Cochecho  which  if  being  so  stated  will  be  greatly 
to  the  Damage  of  yor  Petitioners. 

We  do  therefore  Humbly  Crave  Liberty  of  the  more  Mature  and  Superior 
Judgment  of  your  honours  in  the  General  Assembly  praying  yc  honours  to 
take  it  in  Consideration  that  there  may  be  a  more  Equal  Line  of  Bound'ry  Set 
so  that  yor  aggrieved  petitioners  may  not  be  under  such  Grat  hardships,  and 
yor  petitioners  shall  ever  pray, 

Joseph  Jones  in  behalf  of  the  rest  whose 
names  are  to  be  given  in. 

!See  chapter  entitled  Sketch  of  Church  History. 


1 6  HISTORY   OF   DURHAM 

Joseph  Daniel  Zachrah  Edgerly 

William  Brown  William  Glines 

James  Jackson  Samuel  Davis 

Thomas  Lethers  Joseph  Hiks 

John  Tasker  James  Busell 

Samuel  Chasley  Morres  Fouller 

Joshua  Chasley  John  Busell 

Joseph  Parkins  Eli  Demerett 

Thomas  Bickford  William  Demerett 

Ralph  Horll  [Hall]  John  Demerett 

Samuel  Parkins  John  Huckins 

Joseph  Jones  Jum  Job  Demerett 

Benj  Jones  Derry  Pitman 

John  Jones  Thomas  Willey  Jun 

John  Rand  Joseph  Daniel  the  third 

John  Remiss  [Remick?]  Noel  Crose 

Timothy  Moses  John  Daniel 

Thomas Benjamin  Evens 

Samuel  Chesle  Harvey  Buswell 

John  Allan  William  Buswell 
Dec.  10,  1729. 

As  a  result  of  this  petition  a  hearing  was  granted,  and  the 
matter  was  put  off  until  the  spring  session.  Mr.  Jones  petitioned 
a  second  and  a  third  time,  and  still  no  action  was  taken.  Sep- 
tember 18,  1 731,  the  Rev.  Hugh  Adams  asked  for  a  hearing 
with  reference  to  the  division  line  of  the  parishes,  and  a  hearing 
was  ordered  for  23  September,  but  no  record  of  the  result  is  to 
be  found.  September  24,  1731,  Stephen  Jones,  Hubbard  Stevens 
and  John  Woodman  petitioned  for  a  hearing  on  the  same  matter, 
representing  that  they  were  a  committee  authorized  by  the 
Oyster  River  Parish  and  that  the  previous  hearing  had  not  been 
held  as  ordered.  In  response  to  this  petition  a  hearing  was 
ordered  for  6  May,  1732,  which  by  adjournment  was  held  9 
May,  1732.  As  a  result  a  bill  was  drawn  up  and  in  a  few  days 
passed,  incorporating  Durham  as  a  Township.  The  Journal  of 
the  House  calls  it  the  Parish  of  Durham.  The  records  of  the 
Council  call  it  a  Township.  The  Charter  calls  it  a  Township. 
The  name  Durham  was  suggested  by  the  Rev.  Hugh  Adams, 
as  claimed  by  him  in  an  address  to  the  General  Assembly  in 
1738.  See  N.  H.  Province  Papers,  Vol.  V,  p.  35.  See  also  Miss 
Mary  P.  Thompson's  Landmarks  in  Ancient  Dover,  p.  67. 

The  Charter  as  given  below  is  copied  from  the  Town  Record 
Book,  the  first  thing  recorded  in  the  book  that  contains  the 


HISTORY    OF    DURHAM  1 7 

records  from  the  year  1820  to  the  year  1841.  It  has  been  com- 
pared with  a  copy  made  from  the  original  in  1828.  The  original 
act  was  found  among  the  papers  of  Secretary  Richard  Waldron 
in  the  hands  of  Richard  Russell  Waldron  of  Portsmouth,  Feb- 
ruary, 1827.     It  does  not  bear  the  Province  Seal: 

Anno  Regni  Regis  Georgii  Secundi  Quinto. 

An  act  for  making  that  part  of  Dover  formerly  called  Oyster  River  into  a 
township  by  the  name  of  Durham. 

Be  it  enacted  by  his  Excellc*  the  Governor,  Councill  and  Representatives 
conven'd  in  General  Assembly  and  by  the  authority  of  the  same,  That  all 
those  lands  lying  on  the  southerly  side  of  a  west  north  west  halfe  a  point 
north  line  from  Johnsons  Creek  at  the  bridge  (in  the  county  rhoad)  to  the 
head  line  of  Dover  township,  and  from  the  said  bridge  southeast  and  by  east 
down  to  a  pine  tree  on  a  point  or  neck  of  land  called  Cedar  Point  on  the  west 
side  of  the  mouth  of  the  Back  River  in  Dover  be  erected  and  made  into  a 
distinct  and  separate  town  by  the  name  of  Durham  by  the  bounds  aforesaid: 
all  the  lands  lying  within  the  township  of  Dover  on  the  southerly  side  of  the 
lines  aforesaid  from  Johnsons  Bridge:  And  that  the  inhabitants  of  Durham 
have,  use,  exercise  and  enjoy  all  such  powers  and  privileges  which  other 
towns  have,  and  do  by  law  use,  exercise  and  enjoy  so  that  theykeep  &  maintaine 
a  learned  orthodox  minister  of  good  conversation  among  them:  and  make 
provision  for  an  hon^ie  support  and  maintenance  for  him  and  that  in  order 
thereto  they  be  discharged  from  payment  to  any  other  minister:  and  that  all 
the  common  land  within  said  town  of  Durham  to  be  the  present  inhabitants 
as  the  majr  part  thereof  shall  grant  and  that  (if  there  be  occasion  to  call  a 
town  meeting  for  making  choice  of  any  town  officers  for  the  present  yeare) 
that  Capt.  Francis  Mathes  is  hereby  impowered  and  directed  to  notifie  and 
summon  the  inhabitants  duely  quallified  for  voters  to  assemble  &  meet  to- 
gether for  the  choosing  such  officers  or  making  such  rates  as  are  needfull  for 
the  present  yeare  untill  theire  annuall  meeting. 

And  be  it  further  enacted,  That  the  said  town  of  Durham  have  power  to 
send  a  Representative  to  the  Gen"  Assembly  from  time  to  time. 

In  the  House  of  Represen*  May  13th  1732. 

Read  three  tim2  in  the  House  of  Representatives  and  passed  to  be  enacted. 

Andrew  Wiggin,  Speaker 
In  Coun<=  eod  die  Read  and  Concurr'd. 

R.  Waldron,  Secry 
May  15,  1732.     I  assent  to  the  enacting  this  bill. 

J.  Belcher. 

The  first  town  meeting  was  called  by  Capt.  Francis  Mathes 
and  held  26  June  1732.  It  was  voted  to  divide  the  common 
and  undivided  lands  among  the  present  inhabitants,  and  a 
committee  for  that  purpose  was  appointed  28  January  1733/4. 
The  warrant  of  6  March,  1733/4,  under  the  hands  of  the  select- 
2 


1 8  HISTORY   OF   DURHAM 

men,  called  a  meeting  of  the  freeholders  and  inhabitants,  who 
were  so  in  1732,  to  assemble  at  the  meeting  house,  where  the 
Sullivan  monument  now  is,  on  Monday,  18  March  1733/4, 
to  pass  votes  relating  to  the  division  of  the  common  lands. 
It  appears  that  the  previous  committee  did  not  act.  The  meet- 
ing chose  Jonathan  Thompson  as  Moderator  and  the  following 
committee  to  make  the  division,  viz.,  Job  Runals,  Joseph  Jones, 
Jr.,  Stephen  Jones,  Ichabod  Chesle,  Thomas  Stevenson,  Samuel 
Smith,  Elezar  Bickford,  Daniel  Davis,  Francis  Mathes,  Joseph 
Thomas,  John  Smith,  Jr.,  John  Williams,  Jona  Tomson,  John 
Burnum  and  John  Woodman. 


*  * 

Li         sad. 

WKKtflnNKnr'' 

itmj 


Durham  Village  as  Seen  From  Broth  Hill 
"  Distance  lends  enchantment  to  the  view." 


Samuel  Smith  was  chosen  Proprietors'  Clerk,  and  19  Decem- 
ber 1734,  it  was  voted  "that  not  any  person  that  was  not  an 
inhabitant  in  town  when  the  charter  was  given  and  granted 
should  have  any  part  or  share  of  the  common  or  undivided 
lands  in  said  town." 

On  20  December,  1734,  the  committee  "voted  that  no  person 
under  the  age  of  twenty  one  years  of  age  when  the  charter  was 
given  &  granted  should  have  any  part  or  share  of  the  common 
&  undivided  lands  in  said  town." 

At  a  subsequent  meeting  it  was  decided  that  twenty-five 
acres  should  constitute  a  whole  share,  and  that  whoever  had 


HISTORY   OF   DURHAM 


19 


farmed  or  improved  any  of  the  common  lands  since  170 1  and 
before  the  charter  was  given  should  have  the  privilege  of  laying  it 
out  "when  it  comes  their  turns  by  the  numbers  that  they  draw," 
and  if  they  refused  then  the  others  could  lay  out  the  same. 
The  Rev.  Hugh  Adams,  in  a  petition  to  the  Governor,  Council 
and  Assembly,  in  1738,  states  that  "the  inhabitants  of  said 
town  proceeded  by  their  chosen  committee  at  their  most  general 
meeting  to  divide  their  commons,  voting  the  minister  aforesaid 
should,  as  he  did,  draw  lots  for  them  all."  The  division  was 
made  in  the  meeting  house,  the  land  divided  being  largely 
located  near  Little  River,  in  that  part  of  Durham  which  is  now 
Lee.  Later  it  was  voted  by  the  town  that  "each  whole  Share 
man  pay  ye  Comite  eight  shillings  &  each  lesser  Share  man 
according  to  their  proportion  &  to  pay  when  their  lots  are  drawn." 
The  division  was  made  18  March,  1733/4,  and  the  following  is 
a  list  of  those  who  received  lands: 


Acres 

I2§  Joseph  Atkinson 
i6f  Sam'  Adams 
25     Hugh  Adams 

3I  Joseph  Baker 
25     Joseph  Bickford 
25     Benjn  Bickford 
25     John  Bickford 
25     Elizer  Bickford 
i6§  Walter  Briant 
25     John  Burnum 
25     James  Burnum 
25     Robert  Burnum 

3!  Charles  Bamford 
25     Joseph  Bunker 
25     James  Bunker 
25     Abraham  Bennick 
I2§  John  Buss 
i6f  John  Buss  Jr. 
25     Jonathan  Chesle 
25     Ruben  Chesley 
25     Joseph  Chesle 
25     Ichabod  Chesle 
25     Philip  Chesle 
25     Joshua  Chesle 
25     Lemuel  Chesle 
25     Eli  Clark 
25     Joshua  Cromet 
25     John  Cromat 


Acres 
25     W 


25 
8* 

25 
25 
25 
25 
25 

I2§ 

«i 

25 
25 

i6f 

25 

i6f 

i6| 

25 

25 

25 

25 

i6f 

25 
25 
i6| 

25 
25 
i6f 
16! 


Clay 
Elias  Critchet 
James  Conner 
Joseph  Davis 
Ephraim  Davis 
Joshua  Davis 
John  Davis 
Benjamin  Davis 
Jeremiah  Davis 
Samuel  Davis 
James  Davis  Jr. 
Daniel  Davis 
Solomon  Davis 
James  Davis 
Jabez  Davis 
Ebenezer  Davis 
John  Drew- 
Joseph  Drew 
W»  Drew 
Thomas  Drew 
Joseph  Durgin 
Francis  Durgin 
John  Durgin 
James  Durgin  Jr. 
James  Durgin 
William  Durgin 
Wm  Durgin  Jr. 
Jonathan  Durgin 


20 


HISTORY   OF    DURHAM 


Acres 

I2§  Benjamin  Durgin 

i6f  John  Doo  Jr.     [Doe] 

25     John  Doo 

i6f  Joseph  Doo 

25     John  Daniels 

25     Joseph  Duda 

25     Joseph  Daniels  Jr. 

12     Peter  Dennio  [Denbo,  now 

Dinsmore] 
25  Rich<i  Dinbo 
125  Benjamin  Daniel 

6|  Joseph  Daniels 
25     Samuel  Emerson 
25     Timothy  Emerson 
25     John  Edgerly 
25     John  Edgerly  Jr. 
25     Joseph  Edgerly 
25     Joseph  Edgerly  Jr. 
25     John  Footman,  deceased 
25     John  Footman 
25     Joseph  Footman 
25     Thomas  Footman 

3!  Samuel  Folloy 
25     Ichabod  Follet 
i6|  John  Foolet 
25     John  Gray 

6j  Joseph  Gilman 

1     Nathaniel  Gookin 
25      Henry  Hill 
25     Valentine  Hill 
25     Nathaniel  Hill 
25     William  Hill 
125  John  Hall's  Estate 
12!  James  Hall 

6%  James  Heald 
25     Robert  Huckins 
25     Joseph  Jones 
25     Stephen  Jones 
25     Stephen  Jones  Jr. 
25     Eben'r  Jones 
25     John  Jenkins 
25     \Ym  Jenkins 
25     Stephen  Jenkins 
12^  Samuel  Jackson 
25     Wm  Jackson 

6|  Moses  Kenning 

6\  Jchn  Kelly 


Acres 

25     Robert  Kent 

12     Joseph  Kent 

25     John  Kent 

12!  Naptheli  Kinket  [Kincaid] 

1     Christopher  Korest  (?) 
12  \  Ezekiel  Leathers 
165  Edward  Leathers 
I2§  Abednego  Leathers 
25     William  Leathers 

3!  James  Leary 
i6f  Thomas  Langley 
i6|  James  Langley 

83  John  Mason 
i6§  Isaac  Mason 
25     Peter  Mason 

6\  W»  Mills 
25     Peter  Mondro 
i6f  John  Muncy 

3s  Robert  Mack  Daniel 

1     Randel  Mack  Donel 
25     Samuel  Meder 
25     Joseph  Meder 
25     John  Meder 
25     Nathaniel  Meder 
25     Daniel  Meder 
25     Nicholas  Meder 
25     Francis  Mathes 
25     Francis  Mathes 

6j  John  Moore 
25     Hezekiah  Mash 
25     John  Pinder 
25     Benjn  Pinder 
25     Samuel  Perkins 
25     John  Pitman 

6£  Abel  Peve 

83  Mathew  Perey 
25     Solomon  Pinkham 
25     Wm  Rains 
25     John  Rawlings 
25     John  Ranals 
25     Job  Ranals 
i6f  Jon  Randel 

i6|  Wm  Randell 

6j  Richard  Rooks 

83   John  Scias  Jr. 

i6f  Samuel  Sias 

16?  Solomon  Sias 


HISTORY    OF   DURHAM 


21 


Acres 

Acres 

I      Benjamin  Stevens 

25     Joseph  Thomas 

i6f  James  Stevens 

i6|  Joseph  Wormwood 

25     Hubord  Stevens 

i6|  Jacob  Wormwood 

8^  Ebenezer  Spencer 

25     Wm  Wormwood 

85  Wm  Shepperd 

25     Jonathan  Woodman 

\2\  Clement  Sias 

25     Jonathan  Woodman  Jr. 

25     John  Sias 

25     Joshua  Woodman 

25     John  Smith 

i6f  Edward  Woodman 

25     John  Smith  Jr. 

i6|  Arclas  Woodman 

25     John  Smith  ye  3d 

25     John  Woodman 

25     Samuel  Smith 

8J  John  Welsh 

25     Samuel  Smith  Jr. 

5     Joseph  Wheler 

25     Samuel  Smith  ye  3d 

25     John  Wille 

25     James  Smith 

25     John  Wille  Jr. 

25     Archabel  Smith 

\2\  John  Wille  ye  3d 

25     Benjamin  Smith 

i6|  Wm  Wille 

6j  Joseph  Smart 

i6f  Stephen  Wille 

\2\  Joseph  Simons 

15     Ye  Estate  Wm  Wakham  decd 

25     Joseph  Stevenson 

25     Samuel  Williams 

25     Thomas  Stevenson 

25     John  Williams 

25     Abraham  Stevenson 

25     John  Williams  Jr. 

25     John  Tomson's  Estate 

25     John  York 

25     John  Tompson 

6}  Richard  -       -  [York?] 

25     Jonathan  Thompson 

Additional  Grants,  March  23,  1737. 

Acres 

Acres 

25     Thomas  Leathers 

25     Lemuel  Chesley 

85  Joseph  Glidden 

\2\  John  Laskey 

6|  Salathiel  Denbo 

George  Chesley 

The  business  of  the  Proprietors  was  not  closed  up  for  many 
years.  In  1765  Jonathan  Woodman  and  Hubbard  Stevens, 
Proprietors'  Committee,  called  a  meeting,  as  some  grants  con- 
flicted with  each  other.  John  Thompson,  Jeremiah  Burnham, 
Jr.,  and  Moses  Emerson  were  impowered  to  sell  the  balance 
of  land  and  examine  the  doings  of  the  former  committee.  A 
committee  consisting  of  John  Woodman,  Capt.  Joseph  Sias,  and 
Capt.  Benjamin  Smith  were  chosen  to  examine  the  papers  brought 
from  the  former  clerk's  office  and  determine  what  of  said  papers 
is  proper  to  be  recorded.  Ebenezer  Thompson  was  elected 
clerk  31  March  1766,  which   position  he  filled  until  28   March 

1774- 

When  the  parish  of  Lee  was  established  in  1765,  the  town  of 


22  HISTORY   OF   DURHAM 

Durham  thus  voted  to  protect  the  interests  of  the  proprietors, 
"That  the  said  parish  shall  not  in  any  Respect  Interfere  with 
any  Lands  belonging  to  the  proprietors  in  said  town."  See 
N.  H.  Town  Papers,  Vol.  XI,  pp.  584-85. 

In  1772  John  Woodman,  "survivor  of  the  Proprietors'  Com- 
mittee," called  a  meeting,  and  Major  Stephen  Jones  was  chosen 
moderator  and  Nathaniel  Norton  Clerk  pro  tern.  Action  was 
taken  to  eject  William  Caldwell  from  land.  The  records  show 
lawsuits.     The  end  is  not  recorded. 

The  aim  of  this  chapter  is  to  state  merely  the  most  important 
steps  in  the  municipal  history  of  Durham.  We  pass  on,  there- 
fore, to  the  division  of  the  town  and  the  incorporation  of  Lee. 
It  is  thus  stated  on  high  authority,  "January  16,  1766,  the  town 
was  divided  and  the  westerly  part  incorporated  as  a  Parish  by 
the  name  of  Lee,  with  full  town  privileges."  It  is  questionable 
whether  Lee  had  at  first  full  town  privileges,  for  the  Journals 
of  the  House  of  Representatives  do  not  show  that  Lee  was 
impowered  to  send  a  representative  to  the  General  Assembly 
while  New  Hampshire  was  a  royal  province.  Lee  sent  as  dele- 
gates to  the  first  Provincial  Congress  at  Exeter  Joseph  Sias 
and  Ebenezer  Jones;  to  the  second  Congress,  Joseph  Sias  and 
John  Layn;  to  the  third,  Joseph  Sias  and  Smith  Emerson,  and 
also  to  the  fourth;  to  the  fifth,  Capt.  Hercules  Mooney.  This 
Congress  met  21  December  1775  and  was  organized  as  a  House 
of  Representatives  in  January  1776. 

Moreover,  the  town  records  of  Durham  show  that  in  the  spring 
meeting  after  the  incorporation  of  Lee  the  town  elected  three 
selectmen  for  Durham  and  also  Nicholas  Duda  and  Robert 
Thompson  for  Lee,  and  in  1767  the  town  meeting  of  Durham 
elected  Miles  Randall  and  Nicholas  Duda  as  selectmen  of  Lee. 
Also  on  the  28th  of  March  1774,  when  trouble  was  brewing  with 
Great  Britian,  the  town  of  Durham  elected  Joseph  Sias,  Esq.,  and 
Capt.  Hercules  Mooney  on  an  important  town  committee,  "to 
prepare  instructions  to  be  given  their  Representatives  and 
report  to  the  adjournment  of  the  meeting." 

A  town  meeting  was  held  at  the  Falls  meeting  house  in  Dur- 
ham, 3  September  1764.  A  committee  consisting  of  Lieut. 
Joseph  Sias,  Miles  Randall  and  Nicholas  Duda  on  the  part 
of  those  desiring  incorporation,  and  Capt.  Stephen  Jones,  Thomas 
Chesley  and  Capt.  Benjamin  Smith  on  the  part  of  Durham,  was 
appointed  to  run  a  line  from  Paul  Chesley 's  house  near  the  Mad- 


HISTORY   OF   DURHAM  23 

bury  line  to  the  house  of  John  Smart  on  the  Newmarket  line,  ac- 
cording to  the  request  of  sundry  persons  of  the  town.  The 
meeting  was  adjourned  to  the  24th  instant,  when  the  committee 
made  their  report  and  unanimously  recommended, 

That  a  Strait  Line,  Beginning  one  hundred  and  Twenty  four  Rods  above 
the  Dwelling  house  of  paul  Chelsey,  on  Madbury  Line,  and  So  to  Run  a 
Strait  point  across  to  Newmarket  Line,  to  one  mile  and  a  half  above  the 
Dwelling  house  of  John  Smart,  may  be  a  Suitable  Line. 

N.  B.  It  is  the  intent  of  the  above  Resolve,  that  the  Line  Fixed  upon  run 
from  the  house  of  paul  Chesley,  North  6  degrees  East  to  Madbury  Line  & 
then  to  Measure  up  124  rods,  by  said  Madbury  Line. 

The  town  meeting  was  adjourned  to  8  October  next,  when  Capt. 
Benjamin  Smith  and  Lieut.  Joseph  Sias  were  appointed  a  com- 
mittee to  "draw  a  Vote  in  writing  for  the  western  part  of  the  town 
to  Be  Sat  of  as  a  parish  and  Bring  it  to  the  Town,  at  Some  pub- 
lick  town  meeting."  This  committee  brought  in  their  report  to  a 
town  meeting  held  18  November  1765,  in  writing,  as  follows: 

That  the  west  End  of  Said  Town  of  Durham  be  voted  to  be  Sat  of  as  a 
parish,  Agreeably  to  the  Result  or  a  Report  of  a  Committee,  (Chosen  and 
appointed  for  that  purpose)  and  Brought  into  publick  Town  meeting  the  24th 
day  of  Sept.  1764 — with  this  addition,  thereto,  that  the  Said  parish,  when  an 
act  may  be  Obtained  for  that  purpose,  Shall  take  their  proportionable  Part  of 
the  poor  now  Supported  by  the  whole  town,  and  Likewise  That  the  Said 
parish  Shall  hot  in  any  Respect  Interfere  with  any  Lands  belonging  to  the 
proprietors  in  Said  Town. — Voted  that  the  above  vote,  Brought  by  Capt. 
Smil  h  and  Sias,  is  agreeable  to  the  Sense  of  the  Town  and  that  it  be  Recorded 
accordingly."  See  N.  H.  Town  Papers  XL  584-5,  or  Town  Records  of 
Durham. 

The  following  petition  is  of  value  especially  for  the  genealogist, 
since  it  shows  who  were  living  in  Lee  in  1765 : 

To  his  Excellency  Benning  Wentworth  Esqr  Governor  and  Commander  in 
Chief  in  and  over  his  Majesty's  Province  of  New  Hampshire,  to  the  Honourable 
his  Majesty's  Counsel  and  the  House  of  Representatives  in  General  Assembly 
Convened,  The  Petition  of  Sundry  of  the  Inhabitants  of  Durham  most  humbly 
Sheweth  that  in  said  Town  of  Durham  there  are  Inhabitants  Sufficient  for  two 
Parishes  and  to  maintain  and  support  the  Charge  thereof  That  many  of  the 
Inhabitants  live  more  than  Eight  miles  from  the  Place  of  Publick  Worship 
and  where  all  Town  meetings  and  the  Publick  of  Affairs  are  holden  and  Tran- 
sacted which  Renders  it  very  Difficult  for  them  to  Attend  there  at  any  time  but 
more  Expecially  in  the  winter  Season  that  the  consequence  thereof  it  is 
Probable  will  be  that  many  of  the  Youth  in  said  Town  will  be  brought  up  in 
great  Ignorance  unless  the  Difficulties  be  removed  and  the  Petitioners  are 
in  a  great  measure  prevented  the  use  of  their  Privilidges  in  their  present 
Situation — 

Wherefore  your  Petitioners  most  humbly  pray  your  Excellency  and  Honours, 


^4 


HISTORY    OF    DURHAM 


that  there  may  be  two  Parishes  in  said  Town  and  that  the  Dividing  Line  be- 
tween the  two  Parishes  Beginning  at  Paul  Chesles  house  at  Beech  Hill  so 
(Called)  then  North  Six  Degrees  East  to  the  line  Between  said  Durham  and 
Madbury  then  running  westerly  on  said  line  one  hundred  and  twenty  four 
Rods  then  Beginning  and  Running  from  thence  to  New  Market  line  to  one 
mile  and  half  above  the  Dwelling  House  of  John  Smart,  which  line  was  agreed 
upon  by  a  Committee  Chosen  by  the  said  Town  of  Durham  in  the  year  one 
thousand  Seven  hundred  and  Sixty  four  and  Voted  in  Publick  Town  meeting, 
and  so  to  Include  the  whole  of  said  Durham  above  this  line.  We  therefore 
humbly  pray  your  Excellency  and  your  Honours  to  take  our  Case  into  your 
wise  Considerations  and  Set  said  Parish  off  by  said  line  with  the  powers  and 
privileges  of  other  Towns  or  Parishes  in  this  Province  and  your  Petitioners  as 
in  Duty  bound  shall  ever  pray. 

Dated  at  Durham  November  18th  1765. 


Hercules  Mooney 
Gideon  Mathes 
Winthrop  Durgin 
Elijah  Denbo 
Samuel  Jack^m 
Joseph  Thomson 
James  Hall 
Jonathan  runnels 
Samuel  pitman 
John  follett 
Benjamin  Bradly 
Joseph  Jackson 
Josiah  Johnson 
Timothy  Davis 
thomas  Yourk 
stoten  tutle 
Miles  Randal 
Samuel  Langley 
Moses  Davis  Jum 
Will  ■»  Waymoth 
James  Davis 
Hanary  tufts 
nathaniel  Watson 
Andew  watson 
Isaac  Small 
Joseph  Hicks 
John  Sanborn 
Edward  Hill 
Thomas  Snell 
Eli  Clark  Juner 
Eben  Randel 
Micah  Emerson 
Joseph  Clark 
Joseph  Sias 
John  Elliot 


Joshua  Woodman  Junr 
John  Giles 
Joseph  medar 
Thomas  Huckins 
Nicholas  Duda 
Ebem  Lethers 
William  Renely 
ffrancis  Eliot 

Benjamin  Bickford 
mason  Rendel 
Joseph  Clay 
Nathaniel  Stevens 

Jun 
Bartholomew  Smart 
Nichole  Tuttel 
Samuel  Burley 
Nathaniel  Randal 
Reubin  Hill 
Clement  Davis 
James  Watson 
Nathaniel  frost 
Samuel  Watson 
Josiah  Durgin 
John  Durgin 
John  Shaw 
Benjamin  Woodman 
Samuel  Sias 
David  munsey 
Benj»  Clark 
Moses  Dam 
Joseph  doe 
Benj»  Durgin 
Eb'  Jones  June 


Israel  Randel 
Francis  Durgin 
Joshua  Burnam 
Samuel  Carter 
Thomas  huckins  Jr 
Solomon  Sias 
ffrancis  Allen 
William  Cashey 
Edweard  Scales 
Samuel  bickford 
William  Rendel 
Job  Runels 
John  Clark 
David  Davis 
George  tutle 
Jonathan  Stevens 
Zaccheus  Clough 
John  Davis 
James  Giles  Bunker 
Robert  York 
Jonathan  Stevens 
Ebenezer  Dow  jun. 
Nathaniel  Watson  ju> 
Joseph  Huckins 
John  Shaw  Jun» 
Ichabod  Denbow 
Thomas  Wille 
John  Snell 
Eli  Clark 
hunkin  Dam 
Thomas  Noble 
Nathel  Sias 
Nathaniel  Stevens 


HISTORY   OF    DURHAM 


25 


John  Cartland,  a  Friend,  is  said  to  have  come  from  Lee,  Scot- 
land, early  in  the  eighteenth  century  and  to  have  had  the  privi- 
lege of  naming  Lee  after  his  native  town. 

No  further  change  was  made  in  the  boundaries  of  Durham  till 
2  July  1870,  when  the  western  portion  of  Lubberland  stretch- 
ing along  the  north  shore  of  Great  Bay  was  set  off  and  annexed 
to  Newmarket.  Thus  that  part  of  ancient  Exeter  received 
a  portion  of  its  original  claim,  and  Durham  lost  some  historic 
places.  This  portion,  however,  is  included  in  the  descriptive 
history  of  this  book. 

No  complete  tax  list  has  been  found  between  the  years  1682 
and  1783.  There  is  a  "Ministers  Counterpein  for  the  year  1760" 
in  the  possession  of  S.  H.  Shackford,  Esq.,  of  Boston,  which  gives 
the  names  of  those  then  living  on  the  "North  Side"  of  Oyster 
River.     The  names  alphabetically  arranged  are  as  follows: 


Doc  Joseph  Atkinson 
Abner  Bickford 
Benjamin  Bickford 
Samuel  Bickford 
Benjamin  Bodge 
Joshua  Burnum 
Solomon  Burnum 
Thomas  Bunker 
Isaac  Bussel 
Andrew  Carter 
George  Chesle 
Jonathan  Chesle 
Joshua  Chesle 
Lt.  Ichabod  Chesle 
Paul  Chesle 
Lt.  Philip  Chesle 
Samuel  Chesle 
Thomas  Chesle 
Thomas  Chesle  Jr. 
Joseph  Clark 
Joseph  Clay 
Jonathan  Clough 
Zacheus  Clough 
John  Crocket 
Moses  Dam 
David  Daniel 
Ephraim  Davis 
John  Davis 
Jonathan  Davis 


Jonathan  Davis  Jr. 
Jeremiah  Davis 
Moses  Davis 
Nehemiah  Davis 
Robert  Davis 
Zephaniah  Davis 
Aaron  Davis 
Samuel  Demeritt 
Clement  Denbo 
Ichabod  Denbo 
Joseph  Doe 
Samuel  Dyer 
Benj  Durgin 
Josiah  Durgin 
Moses  Emerson 
Solomon  Emerson  Esq. 
Abraham  Fernald 
Jonathan  Fish 
John  Follet 

Widow  Prudence  Follet 
John  Giles 
Stephen  Glashier 
John  Glover 
Richard  Glover 
Samuel  Gray 
Edward  Hill 
Eliphalet  Hill 
Jonathan  Hill 
Nathan'  Hill 


26 


HISTORY   OF    DURHAM 


Robert  Hill 
Samuel  Hill 
Samuel  Hill  Jr. 
Valentine  Hill 
Widow  Abigail  Jones 
Benjamin  Jones 
Ebenezer  Jones 
Ebenezer  Jones  Jr. 
Richard  Jones 
Capt.  Stephen  Jones 
Benjamin  Jackson 
Widow  Patience  Jackson 
William  Jackson 
Mark  Jewel 
David  Jonson 
Thomas  Jonson 
John  Huckins 
Joseph  Huckins 
Joseph  Huckins  Jr. 
Thomas  Huckins 
Thomas  Huckins  Jr. 
Aaron  Hunscomb 
Elias  Lad 
John  Langley  Jr. 
Samuel  Langley 
John  Laskey 
Samuel  Langmaid 
Abednego  Leathers 
Ebenezer  Leathers 
Edward  Leathers 
Edward  Leathers  Jr. 
Ezekiel  Leathers 
Jonathan  Leathers 
Robert  Leathers 
Stephen  Leathers 
Thomas  Leathers 
Gideon  Mathes 
John  McCoy 
Nathan"  Meder 
Thomas  Noble 
Wm.  Odiorne  Esqr. 
Abijah  Pinkom 
Walter  Philbrick 
Quick  Priest 
Ebenezer  Randal 
John  Randel 
Jonathan  Randal 
Mason  Randal 


Widow  Mary  Randal 
Miles  Randal 
William  Randal 
Thomas  Rines 
Thomas  Rollins 
Abraham  Runals 
Job  Runals 
Job  Runals  Jr. 
Jonathan  Runals 
William  Runals 
Edward  Scales 
Lt.  Joseph  Sias 
Nathaniel  Sias 
Samuel  Sias 
Samuel  Sias  Jr. 
Solomon  Sias 
John  Shaw 
Benjamin  Small 
Benjamin  Small  Jr. 
Edward  Small 
Isaac  Small 
Joseph  Small 
Joseph  Small  Jr. 
John  Snell 
Abednego  Spencer 
Hubbard  Stevens 
Hubbard  Stevens  Jr. 
Joseph  Stevens 
Samuel  I.  Stevens 
Jos.  Stevenson 
Doc  Ebenezer  Thompson 
John  Thomson 
Ens.  Jonathan  Thomson 
Widow  Sarah  Thomson 
Nathaniel  Thomson 
Robert  Thomson 
Robert  Thomson  Jr. 
Seth  Thomson 
Solomon  Thomson 
John  Tasker  Jr. 
Samuel  Tod 
Archalaus  Woodman 
Edward  Woodman 
Jonathan  Woodman 
John  Woodman 
Jonathan  Woodman,  Jr. 
Joshua  Woodman 
Shadrach  Walton 


HISTORY   OF   DURHAM 


27 


Thomas  Whitekom 
Paul  Wille 
Samuel  Wille 
Thomas  Wille 


John  Williams 
John  Williams  Jr. 
Joseph  Williams 


The  following  names  are  found  on  a  counterpart  for  the  Parish 
of  Madbury  for  the  year  1758  and  may  be  of  use  to  genealogists. 
Many  on  this  list  belonged  to  Durham  families. 


William  Allen 

Elijah  Austin 

Benjamin  Bickford 

Charles  Bickford 

John  Bickford  Jr. 

Thomas  Bickford 

Benjamin  Bodge 

Nicholas  Brock 

James  Brown 

Azariah  Boodey 

Benjamin  Bussell 

Henry  Bussell 

Ebenezer  Bussell 

Isaac  Bussell 

John  Bussell 

Joseph  Bussell 

Samuel  Bussell 

William  Bussell 

Stephen  Bunker 

Richard  Caswell 

Ichabod  Canney 

James  Chesleys  Estate 

Jonathan  Chesley 

Joshua  Chesley 

Samuel  Chesley 

Samuel  Chesley  Jr. 

Paul  Chesley 

Reuben  Chesley 

Lemuel  Chesley 

Abraham  Clark 

James  Clark 

Remem«  Clark 

James  Clements 

Hezekiah  Cook 

John  Canney  Jr. 

Wid  Sarah  Dam 

Lt.  James  Davis 

Maj.  Thomas  Davis 

Sam"  Davis  &  son  Thomas 


Ephraim  Davis 
Nathaniel  Davis 
Sam"  Davis,  Jr. 
Joseph  Daniels 
Joseph  Daniels  Jr. 
Jacob  Daniels 
Eli  Demerit 
Job  Demerit 
Ebenezer  Demerit 
John  Demerit 
&  his  son  John 
Solomon  Demerit 
William  Demerit 
Job  Demerit  Jr. 
Clement  Drew  Jr. 
Clement  Drew 
David  Drew 
James  Drew 
Joseph  Drew  Estate 
Joseph  Drew 
Francis  Drew 
Meshech  Drew 
Obediah  Drew 
Paul  Drew 
Silas  Drew 
Samuel  Drew 
Thomas  Drew 
&  son  John 
Thomas  Drew  Jr. 
Thomas  Drew  3rd 
Lt.  Zechf  Edgerly 
Sol»  Emerson  Esq. 
Daniel  Evens 
John  Evens 
Joseph  Evens 
Micah  Emerson 
Stephen  Evens 
Thomas  Evens 
Ebem  Garland 


28 


BISTORY   OF   DURHAM 


Capt.  Paul  Gerrish 

William  Glidden 

Wid.  Mary  (".lover 

John  Ham 

John  Ham  Jr. 

James  Hanson 

Jonathan  Hanson 

Xathaniel  Hanson 

Stephen  Hanson 

Timothy  Hanson 

Samuel  Hanson 

Ichabod  Hayes 

Daniel  Hayes 

Capt.  Joseph  Hicks 

Israel  Hodgdon 

John  Huckins 

Robert  Huckine 

Benjamin  Hill 

William  Hill 

Daniel  Jacobs 

Wid.  Hannah  Jackson 

James  Jackson 

James  Jackson  Jr. 

Daniel  Jacobs  Jr. 

Joseph  Jackson 

William  Jackson 

William  Jenkens 

Anthony  Jones 

Benjamin  Jones 

Richard  Jones 

Abraham  Jonson 

Wid.  Hannah  Laighton 

Isaac  Laighton 

John  Laighton 

John  Laighton  of  Barrington 

Gideon  Laighton 

Samuel  Laighton 

James  Lammus 

Nathi'  Lammus 

Benjamin  Leathers 

Thomas  Leathers 

Joseph  Libby 

John  Malory 

John  Malory  Jr. 

James  Malory 

Daniel  Meader 

Joseph  Meader 


Daniel  Misarve 
Daniel  Misarve  Jr. 
Joseph  Misarve 
John  Misarve 
Timothy  Moses 
David  Muncey,  Durham 
Stephen  Otis 
Stephen  Otis  Jr. 
Conor  Pitman 
Zechariah  Pitman 
Amos  Pinkham 
James  Pinkham 
Moses  Pinkham 


Paul  Pinkham 

Stephen  Pinkham 

Solomon  Pinkham 

Richard  Pinkham  Jr. 

Samuel  Pinkham  Jr. 

Simon  Rendel 

John  Roberts 

Ens.  Joseph  Roberts 

Samuel  Roberts 

John  Smith 
Abednego  Spencer 
Ebenezer  Tasker 
John  Tasker 
John  Tasker  Jr. 
William  Tasker 
Daniel  Tibbets 
Henry  Tibbets 
Jeremiah  Tibbets 
Nathaniel  Tibbets 
Isaac  Twombly    - 
Joseph  Twombly 
William  Twombly  3d 
John  Winget  Jr. 
Dennet  W'aymoth 
Moses  Waymoth 
John  Whitehorn 
Joseph  Woodman 
Abner  Young 
Eleazer  Young 
Daniel  Young 
Jonathan  Young 
Samuel  Young 
Samuel  Young  Jr. 
James  Young 


I 


HISTORY   OF   DURHAM  29 

Durham  has  sent  out  colonies  from  time  to  time  to  found  and 
develop  other  towns.  New  Durham  was  incorporated,  6  De- 
cember 1 762 ,  as  the  result  of  a  petition  signed  in  1 748  by  ninety-six 
petitioners  from  Durham,  many  of  whom  settled  in  the  new 
town.  Many  of  the  founders  of  Rochester  went  from  Durham, 
and  the  earliest  meetings  of  the  proprietors  were  held  in  Durham. 
Canterbury  had  a  goodly  number  of  settlers  from  Durham,  whose 
names  are  found  in  the  list  of  proprietors.  Holderness,  Barring- 
ton,  Barnstead  and  Nottingham  were  indebted  to  Durham  for 
many  of  their  early  men  of  enterprise  and  leadership.  In  later 
years  the  broad  West  has  been  dotted  here  and  there  with  set- 
tlers from  the  vicinity  of  Oyster  River,  and  some  of  these  have 
risen  to  places  of  distinction  and  power. 


EARLY  SETTLERS  AND  ESTATES 

In  locating  the  first  settlers  in  Oyster  River  Plantation  it  may 
be  convenient,  for  the  sake  of  clearness,  to  begin  at  the  western 
extremity  of  the  shore  line,  at  the  mouth  of  Lamprey  River,  the 
earliest  boundary  between  Dover  and  Exeter. 

Richard  York  deposed  in  1652  that  he  was  living  in  Dover  in 
1635.  He  had  a  lot  on  Dover  Neck  as  early  as  1642.  The 
following  town  grant  is  without  date,  but  it  was  made  probably 
about  this  time.  "Richard  York,  a  house  Lott  conteyning  by 
Estimacon  eleaven  acres  more  or  less,  butting  upon  the  high 
street  East  and  on  the  Durty  Lane  west  on  John  Dams  Lott  on 
the  South  and  uppon  the  lane  from  Elder  Nutters  North,  more 
all  the  m'  she  in  a  Creeke  called  by  the  name  of  Little  Johns  Creek, 
more  one  small  marsh  conteyning  by  estimation  eleaven  acres 
more  or  less  in  the  great  Bay  butting  upon  two  small  Islands 
southwest,  more  one  spott  of  marsh  lying  to  the  northwest  ioyning 
to  ye  other  only  a  small  point  of  Land  making  some  division." 
In  1656  there  were  granted  to  him  one  hundred  acres  next  to 
John  Martin's  "bounded  as  followeth,  that  is  to  say,  by  lambrill 
River  side  North  west  96  Rood  and  from  the  marked  tree  Betwixt 
John  Martin  and  Richard  York  200  Rood  South  west  and  be 
west  and  the  head  line  96  Rod  nor  west  &  be  nor  and  from  that 
marked  tree  to  the  River  again  200  Rood  south  west  and  be 
west."  This  he  willed  to  his  son  Benjamin  in  1672.  This  land 
is  now  in  Newmarket,  forming  the  southerly  part  of  the  neck  of 
land  lying  between  the  mouth  of  Lamprey  River  and  Goddard's 
Creek. 

Next  north  of  Richard  York  lived  John  Martin,  who  married 
Hester,  daughter  of  Thomas  Roberts  of  Dover  Neck.  On  the 
26th  of  7th  month,  1664,  there  was  granted  to  John  Martin 
"the  land  which  now  he  posseth  where  his  dwelling  house  stand- 
eth  to  be  maed  up  forty  ackers  Beginning  at  the  water  sied  taking 
all  the  land  Betwixt  John  Godder  and  Richard  Yorke  and  so 
running  up  into  the  woods  not  intrenching  upon  ani  former 
Grant." 

The  location  of  John  Martin's  lot  is  still  further  defined,  28 
February  1664,  when  it  was  ordered  that  Capt.  Ralph  Hall  and 

31 


32  HISTORY    OF   DURHAM 

Deacon  John  Hall  lay  out  a  highway  from  Lamprey  River  Fall 
to  the  water's  side  in  the  Great  Bay.  They  accordingly  "layd 
it  out  as  followeth,  that  is  to  say,  from  the  fall  above  sayd  to 
Goe  as  the  old  way  goeth  tell  it  Cometh  to  a  great  Roke  with  a 
tree  groeing  on  the  top  thear  of  on  the  left  hand  of  the  old  waye 
goeing  from  the  said  fall  to  John  Godders,  neir  to  wich  Roke  are 
two  trees  marked  with  H  thus  betweine  wich  trees  the  way  is  to 
goo  straite  Downe  to  a  letell  freshett  and  over  it  strait  to  another 
and  over  it  and  soe  betwixt  two  trees  marked  with  H  like  the 
former  two  trees  and  soe  betwixt  a  letell  swampe  and  the  Rokey 
hill  side  thet  lieth  behind  John  Martins  house  and  soe  strait  to  the 
laen  that  is  betwixt  John  Godders  fence  and  John  martins  fence 
of  the  Corn  fields  that  now  lieth  befoer  thear  doers  or  houses  tell 
it  cometh  to  the  lower  Corner  of  John  Martins  fence  next  the 
foer  menshened  laen  and  thear  to  turne  and  goe  as  the  old  way 
goeth  at  the  present  to  the  usuall  landing  plase  tell  John  martin 
mak  a  way  from  the  sayd  Corner  of  his  fence  lower  downe  toward 
the  water  side  then  the  way  goeth  at  the  Present.  The  way  is  to 
be  fower  poll  wied  all  the  way  saueing  between  the  two  foer 
mentioned  fences.  John  Martin  is  to  make  the  way  soe  as  shall 
be  to  the  Towns  Content  belowe  his  feilld  befoer  it  be 
Altered." 

John  Martin  and  wife  Hester  conveyed,  20  September  1667, 
to  Thomas  Mounsell  his  dwelling  house  "now  standing  in  Luber- 
land  in  ye  Great  Bay,"  together  with  forty  acres  of  upland  lying 
between  Richard  York's  and  John  Goddard's  lands,  and  the 
following  year  Mounsell  sold  this  to  Nicholas  Doe,  whose  son, 
Sampson  Doe,  inherited  it  and  added  adjacent  lands  thereto. 
John  Martin  and  family  removed  to  Piscataway,  New  Jersey. 

On  the  10th  of  the  first  month,  1673/4,  the  bounds  between 
Nicholas  Doe  and  John  Goddard  were  fixed  as  follows,  "from 
high  water  mark  at  the  usuall  landing  place  A  high  waye  of  fower 
poele  wid  up  to  John  Godder  his  land  at  the  marsh  on  the  one 
side  and  soe  to  the  Corner  of  John  Godders  orchard  on  the  west 
and  that  fence  of  the  orchard  to  stand  and  soe  to  a  heape  of 
Rockes  on  the  west  of  the  heigh  waye  and  Nicholass  Does  garden 
on  the  Est  of  the  high  waye  and  all  the  Newe  fence  att  Does 
garden  to  be  wholley  taken  a  way  and  from  the  Corner  of  Does 
garden  in  to  the  woods  upon  the  west  sid  of  the  hill  this  high  way 
to  goe  into  the  woods  of  fower  pole  wide  upon  a  North  and  be 


HISTORY   OF   DURHAM  33 

west  line  and  is  the  bounds  of  the  land  betwixt  John  Godderd  and 
Nichlos  Doe." 

It  is  impossible  to  locate  precisely  the  ten  acres  granted  to  Hugh 
Dunn,  17th  of  first  month,  1663/4.  "Whereas  hew  doenn  hath 
Buellt  a  house  neir  lampril  River  and  having  now  writ  [no  right] 
to  anie  land  thear  we  doe  Grant  him  ten  ackers  thear,  Exchange 
of  ten  Ackers  from  his  thirty  Ackers  at  Sandey  Banck,  which  tenn 
Ackers  at  Sandey  Banck  is  to  Remaine  the  Townes. "  The  land 
at  Sandy  Bank  had  been  granted  to  him  in  1656.  It  is  located  up 
Lamprey  River,  on  the  north  side  of  Lee  Hook.  Dunn  sold  this 
to  Philip  Crommett  about  1666  and  went  to  New  Jersey  with 
John  Martin  and  others.  See  New  Jersey's  Indebtedness  to 
New  Hampshire,  by  O.  B.  Leonard  of  Plainfield,  N.  J.,  in  N.  H. 
Gen.  Record,  Vol.  i,  pp.  145-50. 

The  next  lot  northeasterly  of  John  Martin's  was  originally 
granted  by  the  town  to  the  Rev.  Thomas  Larkham,  between  1639 
and  1642,  who  conveyed  the  same  to  Joseph  Miller.  On  the  21st 
of  September  1647,  Joseph  Miller  conveyed  to  John  Goddard 
the  "house  where  Miller  now  liveth  and  five  acres  of  land,"  also 
twenty  acres  given  by  the  inhabitants  of  Dover,  alias  Northam 
to  Thomas  Larkham,  "lyinge  on  the  west  side  of  Backe  River," 
also  thirty  acres  of  meadow  ground  lying  "on  the  westerlie  side 
of  the  greate  baye  neere  unto  a  cove  called  the  greate  Cove," 
excepting  ten  acres  given  unto  John  Ault  by  the  said  Thomas 
Larkham,  also  one  hundred  acres  on  the  easterly  side  of  the  said 
marsh  ground  given  by  Dover  to  said  Larkham.  Goddard  paid 
for  all  this  land  16,500  of  merchantable  pipe  staves.  Goddard's 
Creek,'  an  often  mentioned  landmark,  ran  through  the  thirty 
acres  of  land  above  mentioned. 

John  Goddard  was  one  of  Capt.  John  Mason's  colonists,  who 
came  over  in  the  Pied  Cow  in  1634.  He  aided  in  erecting  the 
first  saw  mill  and  grist  mill  run  by  water  in  New  England,  at 
what  is  now  Great  Works,  South  Berwick,  Me.  It  would  seem 
from  what  is  said  above  that  his  house,  which  was  a  garrison, 
stood  south  of  the  creek. 

Mention  has  been  made  of  land  butting  upon  two  small  islands 
granted  to  Richard  York.  His  son  John  inherited  this  land  and 
islands  and,  I  June  1676,  he  and  wife  Ruth  sold  to  Michael 
French  of  Oyster  River  "all  that  tract  or  point  of  land  lying  and 
being  in  Lubberland,  bounded  by  the  Great  Bay  on  the  South 


34 


HISTORY    OF    DURHAM 


east  side,  by  the  lands  of  Nicholas  Doe  on  the  North  west  side, 
by  the  lands  of  the  said  John  York  on  the  North  east  side,  and 
by  the  creek  called  Goddards  Creek  on  the  South  west  Side," 
"with  a  parcel  of  marsh  on  the  South  side  and  two  little  Islands 
containing  by  estimation  six  acres  be  it  more  or  less."  One  of 
the  witnesses  was  Thomas  Ladbrook.  October  14,  1680,  John 
York  conveyed  to  Roger  Rose  eighty  acres  granted  to  York's 
father,  with  all  meadows,  flats,  creek,  thatch-bed,  islands,  and 
islets  belonging  to  said  grant.  Roger  Rose  sold  this  land  to 
John  Rawlins  of  Newbury,  and  Rawlins  sold  it  to  John  Smith,  20 
July  1705,  "a  tract  of  land  and  salt  marsh,  houses,  ffeilds  and 


Davis-Smith  Garrison,  Lcbberlaxd 


orchards  scituate,  lying  and  being  in  Lubberland."  Roger  Rose 
died  6  August  1705,  leaving  no  issue,  so  far  as  learned.  He  was 
born  about  1638  and  married  in  1661  Abigail,  daughter  of  Chris- 
topher Grant  of  Watertown,  Mass.  In  early  life  he  was  a  servant 
of  William  Hudson.     He  is  called  "tailor." 

Joseph,  son  of  John  Smith,  sold  above  mentioned  land  and 
islands  to  Nicholas  Doe,  and  Sampson  Doe,  his  son,  sold  the 
same  to  Joseph  Chesley,  27  March  1707.  The  latter  is  said  to 
have  had  a  garrison  house  here  and  the  islands  were  called 
Chesley's  Islands.  Some  have  supposed  that  the  first  Philip 
Chesley  lived  here,  but  the  evidences  are  all  against  that 
supposition. 

John    Alt,    "aged    about    seventy-three    years,"    deposed,    2 


HISTORY    OF    DURHAM  35 

March  1677/8,  that  Robert  Smart  senior  of  Exeter  did  own  and 
possess  all  the  meadow  on  the  southwest  side  of  John  Goddard's 
Creek  "and  ye  said  Smart  did  possess  it  twelve  years  before 
Dover  was  a  township  &  he  did  possess  it  sixteen  years  together. " 
This  takes  us  back  to  1636.  Others  testified  to  the  same  effect  in 
a  controversy  that  arose.  A  part  of  this  marsh  came  into  the 
possession  of  Sampson  Doe,  and  the  rest  was  sold  by  Robert 
Smart  to  Joseph  Smith  and  his  son  John,  8  April  1706. 

It  has  been  said  above  that  the  Rev.  Thomas  Larkham  gave 
ten  acres  to  John  Ault  before  1642,  lying  next  to  Goddard's  land. 
The  town  also  granted  to  John  Ault,  10  August  1653,  eighty 
acres  at  "ye  Great  Cove  above  needums  poynt,  40  rods  in  length 
upon  ye  Cove. "  This  was  laid  out  to  him  in  1669,  beginning  at 
Richard  York's  marked  tree  and  running  thence  by  the  water 
side  forty  rods  toward  Needoms  point.  The  place  is  called 
Broad  Cove  and  also  Needham's  Cove.  It  seems  that  John 
Ault  did  not  live  here.  He  sold  this  land,  in  1670,  to  John 
Cutt  of  Portsmouth.     Ault's  home  lot  will  be  shown  further  on. 

It  was  in  this  vicinity  that  David  Davis,  who  was  taxed  in 
1680,  built  his  garrison  house  in  1695,  which  until  recently  stood 
about  a  quarter  of  a  mile  west  of  where  Warren  Smith  now  lives. 
The  road  has  been  changed  so  as  to  run  over  the  site  of  the  old 
garrison.  Davis  was  killed  by  Indians,  27  August  1696.  John 
Smith  got  possession  of  this  land  also  and  kept  adding  to  his 
landed  estate  till  he  owned  a  stretch  of  about  four  miles  along  the 
northerly  shore  of  the  Great  Bay,  and  here  his  descendants  have 
lived  unto  the  present  day. 

Needham's  Point,  called  later  Jewell's  Point,  derived  its  name 
probably  from  Nicholas  Needham  of  Exeter,  though  no  record  has 
been  found  of  land  owned  by  him  here.  Needham's  Cove  is 
northeast  of  the  Point,  and  the  point  of  land  at  the  easterly 
extremity  of  the  Cove  was  anciently  called  Pinder's  Point.  The 
next  point  of  land  was  called  Morris's  Point,  and  between  the 
two  points  was  Clift  Cove.  John  and  Ruth  York  14  October 
1680,  sold  to  John  Pinder,  brickmaker  and  bricklayer,  "land 
beginning  at  the  little  point  in  Clift  Cove  adjoining  to  Thomas 
Morris  and  so  over  the  neck  to  a  pine  tree  by  the  path  going  to 
Lubberland."  John  York  had  bought  this  land  of  Thomas 
Roberts,  senior,  1  July  1669.  Here  lived  the  Pinder  family  for 
several  generations. 


36  HISTORY   OF    DURHAM 

Lubberland  seems  to  have  been  a  name  given  first  to  the  region 
between  Lamprey  River  and  Goddard's  Creek  and  to  have  gradu- 
ally been  applied  to  all  the  adjoining  region  along  the  north 
shore  of  Great  Bay. 

Thomas  Morris  was  taxed  in  1663  and  died  30  July  1707,  as 
Pike's  Journal  says.  His  will  gives  his  land  to  his  friends  James 
and  William  Durgin.  James  Durgin's  son,  John,  sold  to  John 
Smith,  2  January  1735,  twenty  acres  of  land  "with  one  dwelling 
house  thereon  situate  lying  &  being  in  Durham  ajoining  on  ye 
north  west  side  of  ye  Great  bay  &  bounded  by  John  Pinders  land 
on  ye  Southwest  &  on  ye  North  by  John  Smiths  land  &  on  ye 
northeast  by  ye  Creek  call  Thomas  Morrys  [Morris's]  Creek. " 

Next  east  of  Thomas  Morris  came  land  of  Thomas  Footman, 
granted  to  him  in  1653.  He  first  lived  on  the  shore  of  Little 
Bay,  as  we  shall  soon  see.  An  island,  still  called  Footman's 
Island,  was  granted  to  him  on  the  19th  of  8th  month,  1653,  con- 
taining one  acre  of  land  more  or  less,  in  the  mouth  of  the  Great 
Bay.  The  island,  "laying  against  the  house,"  is  mentioned  in 
Thomas  Footman's  will,  1667.  The  site  of  the  Footman  house 
is  easily  found  in  about  the  middle  of  the  field. 

Next  to  Thomas  Footman  lived  William  Durgin.  This  ap- 
pears from  the  following  citation.  December  20,  1723,  Francis 
Durgin  of  Exeter  sold  to  John  Smith  his  right,  title  and  interest 
in  "one  certain  neck  of  land  situate  lying  &  being  on  ye  norwest 
side  of  great  bay  &  aioyning  to  Matheses  Creek  so  called  which 
being  y1  half  of  sd  neck  of  land  which  my  father  William  Durgin 
lived  on  in  his  life  time  &  died  in  ye  Persetion."  December  11, 
1694,  William  Furber  was  licensed  to  keep  a  ferry  from  his  house 
at  Welchman's  Cove,  to  transport  travelers  over  to  Oyster 
River,  at  the  rate  of  three  pence  for  each  person  and  eight  pence 
for  man  and  horse,  if  landed  "at  Mathews  his  neck,"  and  six 
pence  for  each  person  and  twelve  pence  for  man  and  horse,  if 
landed  "at  Durgins  the  west  side  of  Mathews  his  neck."  See 
N.  H.  Province  Papers,  Vol.  II,  146-47. 

Eli  Edgerly  has  long  lived  on  the  old  Durgin  farm.  In  front 
of  his  house  and  about  two  rods  distant  there  was  a  cellar  where 
now  is  a  large  cherry  tree.  Here  was  probably  the  Durgin  garri- 
son mentioned  in  1695.  The  ferry  landing  seems  to  have  been 
in  a  little  cove  at  the  southeast  corner  of  the  field.     The  site  of 


HISTORY    OF   DURHAM 


37 


Thomas  Footman's  house  is  plainly  seen  from  Mr.  Edgerly's 
doorway. 

South  of  Crommett's  Creek  and  west  of  the  road  a  winding  road 
near  the  creek  led  to  the  home  of  the  Daniel  family  in  the  old 
days.  Certainly  John  Daniel  lived  here  and  probably  his  father, 
"  Davey  "  Daniel.     The  cellar  can  be  found  easily. 

On  the  23d  of  the  10th  month,  1654,  a  grant  was  made  to 
Francis  Matthews  of  "all  the  marsh  in  the  Great  Creek  on  the 
norwest  side  of  the  Great  Bay,  being  the  first  creek,  and  one 


Adams  Point,  First  Called  "Matthews  Neck" 
In  the  distance,  beyond  Crommett's  Creek,  is  the  old  Durgin  farm 


hundred  acres  of  upland  adjoining  to  it."  This  creek  was  for 
many  years  called  Mathes  Creek,  till  Joshua  Crommett  and  his 
son,  Jacob,  settled  on  the  north  side  of  it  and  west  of  the  road, 
where  a  Mr.  Quimby  has  recently  lived.  They  managed  the 
grist  mill,  the  ruins  of  which  may  be  seen  on  the  west  side  of  the 
creek,  south  of  the  road.  Crommett  was  living  here  before  1772. 
It  is  still  known  as  Crommett's  Creek. 

All  that  neck  of  land,  which  is  almost  an  island,  has  been  known 
since  1654  as  Matthews,  or  Mathes,  Neck.     Benjamin  Matthews 


38  HISTORY   OF   DURHAM 

had  a  grant,  ioth  of  2d  month,  1654,  of  "a  Little  Plott  of  marsh 
at  the  head  of  the  Little  Bay,  with  the  neck  of  land  there." 
Matthews  Neck  is  now  called  Adams  Point,  from  the  name  of  the 
present  owner.  This  is  now  a  beautiful  summer  resort.  The 
view  of  the  extensive  meadow,  of  Great  and  Little  Bays,  and  of 
Furber's  Point  opposite  in  Newington  is  one  of  the  best  in  all 
this  region  of  fine  scenery.  The  present  house  is  the  fourth  that 
has  stood  on  the  same  site.  Here  lived  Capt.  Benjamin  Mathes 
for  a  time. 

Next  north  of  Matthews  Neck  and  stretching  from  Crommett's 
Creek  to  the  head  of  Little  Bay  is  the  old  Kent  farm,  where  eight 
generations  of  the  Kent  family  have  lived.  There  were  laid  out 
to  Oliver  Kent,  3d  of  2d  month,  1658,  seventy  acres  of  land, 
"bounded  betwixt  William  Drewes  and  Mrs.  Mathes  and  Charles 
Adamses  by  the  cricke  side  commonly  called  Mr  Mathews 
Cricke."  Oliver  Kent  was  taxed  in  Dover  in  1648  and  perhaps 
had  lived  here  from  even  earlier  than  that  date,  since  grants  of 
land  were  often  made  years  after  occupation  and  improvement. 
His  house  stood  on  the  hilltop  westerly  of  the  present  barn  of 
Mr.  Eben  Kent,  and  the  old  Kent  burial-ground  is  southeasterly 
of  said  barn.  It  contains  marble  headstones  of  some  of  the  later 
generations  and  rough  unlettered  granite  stones  to  mark  the 
resting  places  of  the  early  families.  The  outlook  from  the  Kent 
lawn  is  alone  enough  to  make  life  happy.  Oliver  Kent's  son, 
Joseph,  added  to  the  original  grant  the  above  mentioned  lot  of 
Charles  Adams  by  purchase  from  his  heirs,  15  February  1 714/5. 
It  had  been  granted  to  Charles  Adams  as  an  out  lot  in  1656, 
"one  necke  of  land  lying  on  the  south  side  of  Bronsons  Crick 
bounded  from  the  western  branch  upon  a  south  line  to  the  Great 
Bay."  Oliver  Kent  bought  of  George  Smythe,  administrator 
of  the  estate  of  George  Webb,  in  1651,"  an  acre  and  a  half  of 
land  in  Oyster  River  Plantation  heretofore  in  the  possession  of 
said  George  Webb,"  who  in  1642  was  presented  at  court  "for 
living  idle  like  a  swine."  This  is  all  we  need  to  know  of  him. 
He  probably  lived  as  a  fisherman,  in  single  wretchedness,  on  the 
south  shore  of  Branson's  Creek. 

Jonas  Bines  had  a  grant  of  "an  out  lot  being  on  the  south  west 
side  of  a  Creeke  caled  by  the  name  of  Bransons  Creeke  being 
ten  acres,  the  west  side  ioyning  to  George  Webb,  from  a  great 
white  Oke  marked  and  the  east  side  coming  to  a  little  gutt, 


HISTORY    OF   DURHAM  39 

right  over  against  a  place  called  the  hay  stack  and  lyeth  next  to 
Charles  Adams  Lott."  This  lot  was  sold  to  John  Hill,  26  Febru- 
ary 1668,  by  John  Bickford,  senior,  who  may  have  acted  as 
executor  of  the  estate  of  Jonas  Bines,  since  there  is  no  record  of 
Bines  after  that  date.  It  was  laid  out  to  John  Hill  thus  "The 
head  line  begins  at  a  pine  tree  by  Bransons  Crick  and  runs  south 
west  29  or  30  rod  along  Georg  web  his  lot  to  the  corner  tree  and 
from  the  pine  tree  down  the  Crick  40  rod  Est  South  Est  to  a  letell 
gut  by  the  Crick  and  from  that  gut  it  Runs  south  west  37  rods 
to  a  little  Pine  tree  marked  and  from  that  tree  it  Runs  west 
south  west  60  rod  to  a  marked  tree  and  from  that  marked  tree 
it  Runs  to  the  upper  Corner  of  George  Webes  lot."  This  lot 
seems  to  be  now  a  portion  of  the  Kent  farm. 

Branson's  or  Bronson's  Creek  next  engages  our  attention,  a 
small  inlet,  about  the  size  of  Willey's  Creek,  which  is  better 
known.  It  is  on  the  south  side  of  the  old  Thomas  Drew  farm  and 
was  named  from  George  Bronson,  or  Branson,  who  was  taxed  in 
1648  and  was  killed  by  a  bull,  2  July  1657.  John  Ault  testified 
that  "Bronson  went  well  out  of  his  house  and  he  went  after  him 
and  found  Bronson  lying  on  the  ground  crying  that  the  bull  had 
killed  him."  He  left  nothing  to  perpetuate  his  name  but  this 
creek.  There  is  no  grant  or  sale  of  land  in  his  name.  Even  the 
creek  is  called  Brands  Krick  in  1691  and  half  a  century  later  it 
is  called  in  a  deed  Blanchard's  Creek.  Let  the  old  name  be 
retained.     It  is  better  than  a  tombstone  for  George  Branson. 

The  next  lot  was  granted  to  William  Drew,  10th  of  8th  month, 
1653,  "sixty  acres  of  upland  being  on  the  north  side  of  Bransons 
Creeke  joining  to  his  marsh."  This  was  assigned  to  his  son, 
Francis  Drew,  and  laid  out  in  1669,  "on  the  north  side  of  Bran- 
sons Crieck  from  the  marsh  thirty  rods  north  est  to  a  marked 
tree  at  the  cricke  next  to  Thomas  Willes  land  and  from  thence 
160  rods  northwest  to  a  marked  tree  and  from  thence  90  rods 
southwest  to  a  marked  tree."  Francis  Drew  deeded  this  to  his 
son  Thomas,  9  October  1691.  Some  time  after  the  return  of 
Thomas  from  captivity  in  Canada  he  settled  here  with  his  wife, 
Tamsen,  but  the  other  heirs  of  Francis  Drew  long  afterward 
claimed  some  right  in  thfs  farm.  This  explains  a  deed  of  Elijah 
Drew,  son  of  Thomas  and  Tamsen,  dated  15  May  1744,  when  he 
conveyed  to  Joseph  Wheeler  and  Zachariah  Edgerly  "all  right 
in  lands  and  tenements  which  did  belong  unto  Mary  Green  of 


40  HISTORY   OF   DURHAM 

Stratham,  being  a  fifth  part  of  sixty  acres  of  land  lying  by  ye 
Little  Bay  &  by  Bransis  Creek." 

John  Drew,  brother  of  Thomas  and  son  of  Francis,  escaped 
from  a  window  in  the  old  Drew  garrison  at  Drew's  Point,  on  the 
south  side  of  Oyster  River,  at  the  time  of  the  massacre  in  1694, 
and  was  slain  by  Indians  in  1706.  He  left  two  daughters,  as  a 
deed  shows,  Maty,  who  married  Joseph  Wheeler,  and  Joanna, 
who  married  Zachariah  Edgerly.  A  deed  of  partition,  dated  13 
July  1747,  between  Joseph  Drew  and  John  Drew,  sons  of  Thomas, 
and  Joseph  Wheeler  and  Mary  his  wife  and  Zachariah  Edgerly 
and  Joanna  his  wife,  gives  to  Joseph  and  John  Drew  their  part 
of  sixty  acres,  "Beginning  at  a  stake  and  stones  standing  half 
a  rod  south  west  from  the  south  corner  of  the  old  house  cellar 
&  from  said  stake  and  stones  it  runs  south  fifty  Degrees  and 
a  half  Degree  east  to  the  Salt  River,  with  lands,  buildings  and 
appurtenances  thereto  belonging, "  and  to  said  Wheeler  and  Mary 
his  wife  &  Zachariah  Edgerly  and  Joanna  his  wife  all  on  the 
other  side  of  a  line,  "with  all  that  Land  which  Thomas  Drew 
late  of  Dover  aforesd  son  of  Francis  Drew  late  of  the  same  place 
purchased  of  Margaret  Squire."  This  land  also  reached  down 
to  the  salt  river.  Margaret  Squier,  widow  of  Bernard  Squier 
probably,  conveyed  to  Thomas  Drew,  24  July  1701,  eighteen 
acres  on  the  northwest  side  of  little  bay,  joining  to  lands  of 
aforesaid  Thomas  Drew.  This  land  had  been  granted  to  her 
first  husband,  Thomas  Willey. 

This  old  Drew  farm  many  years  ago  came  into  the  possession 
of  Richard  Kent.  The  buildings  now  standing  unoccupied 
were  erected  by  him,  but  the  old  Drew  residence  could  not  have 
been  far  from  the  same  site.  Old  residents  in  this  vicinity  say 
that  it  stood  a  little  lower  down,  eight  or  ten  rods  from  the  present 
barn.  It  was  demolished  about  one  hundred  years  ago  and  Mr. 
Joseph  Adams  has  now  one  of  its  doors.  The  Drew  burial- 
ground  is  in  the  field  below  the  house,  on  the  west  side  of  a  gulley 
through  which  flows  a  small  brook  into  Branson's  Creek.  The 
cemetery  is  unfenced.  The  inscriptions  on  two  headstones  can 
be  read  with  some  difficulty.  Many  rough  granite  stones  appear. 
Here  sleep  the  ashes  of  Thomas  and  Ta^nsen  Drew  and  many  of 
their  fourteen  children  and  more  numerous  grandchildren. 

In  1653  there  were  granted  to  Rice  Howell  twenty  acres  "next 
to  William   Drews  grant."     This  he  exchanged  with  Thomas 


HISTORY   OF   DURHAM  41 

Footman  for  land  further  north,  and  Footman  sold  these  twenty 
acres  to  Thomas  Willey,  who,  4  August  1666,  sold  land  adjoining 
to  Henry  Hollwells  to  William  Perkins,  who  seems  to  have  added 
thereunto,  for,  10  June  1694,  William  Perkins  and  wife,  Elizabeth, 
who  had  removed  to  Exeter,  conveyed  to  their  daughter,  Eliza- 
beth Wheeler,  sixty  acres  of  land  with  house,  "over  against  Little 
Bay,"  reserving  a  moiety  of  mowing  land  and  of  growth  of 
apples  during  lifetime.  Here  lived  John  Wheeler  and  wife, 
Elizabeth,  till  they  were  killed  by  Indians,  in  1706.  His  son, 
Deacon  Joseph  Wheeler,  inherited  the  farm,  added  more  to  it  and 
passed  it  along  to  his  son,  Benjamin  Wheeler.  The  old  cellar  near 
the  stone  house,  belonging  to  Mr.  Edward  Rollins  of  Boston  and 
formerly  belonging  to  Charles  H.  Mathes,  and  built  by  James 
Fernald,  perhaps  seventy-five  or  one  hundred  years  ago,  on  the 
farm  next  north  of  the  old  Drew  estate,  is  probably  that  of  the 
Wheeler  family.  October  30,  1765,  Benjamin  and  Elizabeth 
Wheeler  of  Gardners  Town,  Lincoln  County,  Mass.  (now  Gardiner, 
Me.),  Daniel  Edgerly  and  Hannah,  his  wife,  of  Madbury  and 
Abigail  Wheeler,  spinster,  of  Durham  (who  married  William 
Buss),  children  of  Joseph  Wheeler,  tailor,  sold  to  Daniel  Warner 
all  right  in  half  of  a  certain  farm  joining  on  Little  Bay,  "between 
the  land  of  John  Edgerly  and  Joseph  and  John  Drew."  The 
farm  then  contained  one  hundred  and  twenty  acres. 

In  1658  the  selectmen  laid  out  for  the  use  of  the  town  a  grove 
of  pine  trees,  "lieinge  and  beinge  on  the  north  west  sied  of  the 
letell  Bay  half  a  mile  or  thereabout  from  a  creeke  called  the 
Long  Creek,  bounded  upon  the  South  by  Tho  Willey  his  grant. " 
On  the  10th  of  the  26.  month,  1654,  Thomas  Willey  had  a  grant 
on  the  northwest  side  of  Little  Bay,  "threescore  rods  by  the 
Water  side  to  begin  at  the  mouth  of  the  Long  Creeke  and  so 
upwards  eight  score  rods  into  the  woods."  WTilley  sold  this  to 
William  Perkins,  and,  28  January  1669,  William  Perkins  and 
Elizabeth,  his  wife,  conveyed  to  Thomas  Edgerly  a  parcel  of 
land  "lying  &  being  on  the  northwest  side  of  the  Little  Bay  and 
on  the  southwest  side  of  the  long  creek  in  the  town  of  Dover 
aforesd  containing  twenty  pole  by  ye  water  side,  being  marked 
and  bounded  by  the  long  creek  aforesd  on  the  north  east  side  of 
said  parcell  of  land  and  by  a  hemlock  tree  on  the  other  side  which 
standeth  by  the  water  side,  .  .  .  containing  twenty  acres 
more  or  less,  the  which  parcell  of  land  is  a  part  of  the  sixty  acres 


42 


HISTORY    OF    DURHAM 


purchased  of  Thomas  Willey. "  These  twenty  acres  passed  to 
Thomas  Edgerly's  son  John,  and,  4  February  171 1,  John  Edgerly 
and  wife,  Elizabeth,  conveyed  to  Samuel  Edgerly  (his  brother) 
twenty  acres  on  the  northwest  side  of  Little  Bay,  bounded  on  the 
north  "by  the  Creeke  called  and  known  by  the  name  of  the  Mill 
Creek,  bounded  on  the  east  with  the  aforesaid  Little  Bay,  bounded 
on  the  South  with  the  land  of  John  Wheelers  lately  deceased." 
Thus  it  seems  that  John  Wheeler  had  acquired  before  171 1  the 
land  laid  out  in  1658  for  a  pine  grove  for  the  use  of  the  town.  This 
land  of  Edgerly's  is  now  in  the  possession  of  James  Meader, 
and  Long  Creek  is  called  today  Meader's  Creek.     A  two-branched 


Mouth  of  Long  Creek 


brook  flows  through  the  field  in  front  of  Meader's  house  and 
empties  into  the  head  of  Long  Creek,  called  also  Mill  Creek  in 
some  deeds,  because  a  mill  was  erected  at  an  early  date  near  the 
mouth  of  it. 

Long  Creek  winds  up  into  the  woods  that  conceal  it  perhaps 
less  than  an  eighth  of  a  mile.  It  is  broad  and  deep,  an  admirable 
refuge  for  fishing  craft  in  the  old  days.  Just  south  of  it,  on  the 
elevated  land,  amid  the  woods  that  may  have  formed  a  part  of 
the  pine  grove  reservation,  have  recently  been  built  some  summer 
cottages. 

North  of  Long  Creek  it  is  difficult  to  locate  with  precision  the 
first  settlers,  because  there  were  so  frequent  transfers  of  small 


HISTORY   OF    DURHAM  43 

grants  of  land.  The  following  citation  from  Dover  records  will 
aid  us.  The  record  has  been  slightly  mutilated.  "The  grant  of 
land  by  the  Town  of  Dover  to  Thomas  Footman  of  twenty  acres, 
as  appears  by  ye  date  of  ...  of  the  first  month,  1651,  and 
also  a  grant  of  ten  acres  granted  to  John  Hill,  granted  to  him  by 
ye  town  of  Dover  at  a  meeting  they  had  ye  10  of  ye  8 
These  two  grants  are  laid  out  and  bounded  as  follows,  65  rod 
along  ye  shore  from  Thomas  Humphreys  next  John  Alts  long 
creek  near  ye  mill  and  from  thence  west  nor  west  90  rods  to  a 
marked  tree  marked  T.  C.  and  from  y*  tree  it  runs  north  north- 
east 50  rods  to  a  red  oack  tree  marked  again  with  T.  C.  and  from 
thence  it  runs  east  south  east  till  it  comes  to  ye  same  brook  where 
it  began,  and  whereas  the  Town  intended  a  high  way  &  landing 
place  att  long  Creek  it  is  ordered  y*  there  ...  all  be  three 
rod  in  bedth  as  it  is  now  marked  to  the  end  of  the  lott  and  what 
wast  land  is  between  the  high  way  and  ye  creek,  eqall  with  ye 
creek,  is  Thomas  Edgerlys  in  consideration  of  ye  high  way.  This 
land  we  find  to  be  Thomas  Edgerlys  by  ye  consent  of  his  father 
in  law  John  Alt  and  John  Bickford  of  Oyster  River  senior,  so 
then  we  finde  that  the  brook  that  is  between  John  Alts  and 
Thomas  Edgerlys  is  the  bound  given  by  John  Alt  to  ye  said  Ed- 
gerly  his  land  and  is  laid  out  and  bounded  this  18  of  November 
1678."    Signed  by  John  Davis  and  Robert  Burnum. 

Here  mention  is  made  of  a  mill  on  Long  Creek  and  a  highway 
therefrom.  These  are  again  mentioned  in  a  deed  from  Thomas 
Edgerly,  senior,  and  his  wife,  Rebecca,  to  their  son,  Samuel  Ed- 
gerly,  dated  21  May  1700.  It  conveyed  fifteen  acres  "bounded 
from  a  marked  pine  tree  at  ye  head  of  ye  old  dam,  seated  be- 
tween the  long  Cricke  brook  and  the  high  way  that  goeth  out 
into  ye  Commons,  lying  to  ye  west  of  ye  little  bay  in  Oyster  River." 

January  28,  171 1,  Thomas  Edgerly  and  wife,  Rebecca,  sold  to 
their  son,  John  Edgerly,  seventy  or  eighty  acres  of  land  on  the 
northwest  side  of  the  Little  Bay,  "bounded  on  the  north  by  land 
of  John  Rand.  It  fronteth  on  the  aforesaid  little  bay  and  is 
bounded  on  the  south  by  the  creek  called  and  known  by  the  name 
of  the  mill  creek,  at  the  water  side  and  from  there  into  the  woods." 

Thus  we  see  that  Thomas  Edgerly  owned  land  on  both  sides 
of  Long  or  Mill  Creek.  That  on  the  north  side  came  to  him  by 
marrying  Rebecca,  widow  of  Henry  Hallwell,  and  daughter  of 
John  Ault.     The   marriage  took   place  in    1665.     His  garrison 


44 


HISTORY   OF   DURHAM 


house  was  evidently  north  of  Long  Creek,  now  Meader's  Creek, 
and  was  burned  by  the  Indians  in  1694.  Shortly  afterward  he 
petitioned  that  the  neighboring  house  of  John  Rand  should  be 
made  a  garrison.  Rand  had  married  Remembrance,  the  other 
daughter  of  John  Ault,  and  so  had  half  of  the  original  estate  of 
John  Ault,  who  was  one  of  Capt.  John  Mason's  colonists  and 
must  have  settled  at  Oyster  River  about  the  year  1635.  His 
farm  lay  between  Long  Creek  and  the  next  brook  north  called 
in  ancient  deeds  Plum  Swamp  Brook.  John  Ault  conveyed  to 
his  son-in-law,  John  Rand,  21  April  1674,  "all  ye  place  or  planta- 
tion whereon  I  now  live." 


Shore  of  Little  Bay 
Durham  Point  on  the  left,  Fox  Point  on  the  right 


November  17,  1718,  John  Rand,  son  of  the  John  Rand,  who 
with  wife,  Remembrance,  was  probably  killed  by  Indians  in  the 
massacre  of  1694,  conveyed  to  Francis  Mathes  thirty  acres  of 
"Rands  Plantation,"  "on  the  northwest  side  of  ye  Little  Bay," 
between  John  Edgerly's  land  on  the  south  and  John  Ambler's 
land  on  the  north. 

November  26,  1720,  Job  Runnels  sold  to  John  Ambler  land 
which  John  Ault  gave  to  his  son-in-law,  John  Rand  and  wife, 
Remembrance,  in  1764,  which  land  Runnels  bought  of  Nathaniel 
Rand  and  Francis  Rand. 


HISTORY   OF   DURHAM  45 

In  August,  1912,  Hon.  Lucien  Thompson  and  myself  carefully 
explored  this  region.  We  found  what  seems  to  have  been  the 
landing  place  at  the  mouth  of  Long  Creek,  on  the  north  side, 
where  in  later  times  bricks  were  made.  The  mill  dam  may  have 
been  that  of  a  tide  mill,  at  the  very  mouth  of  the  creek,  where 
upright  ledges  form  natural  abutments  and  where  a  dam  could 
have  been  built  at  little  expense.  The  supply  of  water  from  tide 
and  brooks  would  have  been  abundant  for  those  times.  An  ex- 
cavation on  the  hilltop,  perhaps  ten  rods  from  the  mouth  of  the 
creek  and  on  the  north  side,  probably  marks  the  site  of  the  Ed- 
gerly  garrison,  burned  in  1694.  The  pasture  land  around  it  is 
now  overgrown  with  small  pines  and  bushes,  yet  traces  of  the 
old  road  from  the  landing  to  the  main  road  are  easily  discovered. 
Walking  in  a  northerly  direction  over  this  wooded  and  hilly  pas- 
ture one  comes  to  a  large  field  of  the  John  Emerson  farm,  where 
Mr.  Bela  Kingman  has  a  camp.  In  the  southeast  corner  of  that 
field,  a  few  rods  from  the  shore,  not  far  from  a  fine  spring  of  water, 
is  a  depression  that  marks  the  cellar  of  the  house  built  by  John 
Ault,  given  to  his  son-in-law,  John  Rand,  and  used  as  the  gar- 
rison of  this  region  after  1694.  A  portion  of  a  brick  was  found 
near  the  surface. 

On  the  17th  of  the  4th  month,  1667,  Thomas  Seabrook  and 
wife,  Mary,  conveyed  to  John  Ault,  for  twelve  pounds  paid  by 
Thomas  Edgerly,  all  right,  title,  and  interest  in  "all  such  lands 
that  John  Hill  did  purchase  of  Thomas  Footman,  did  purchase 
and  pass  over  to  Richard  Bray,  situate  &  lying  in  ye  Little  Bay 
on  ye  south  west  side  of  ye  Brooke  wch  runneth  between  ye  lot 
of  sd  Richard  and  ye  Lott  of  Thos  Humphreys  near  John  Aults 
land  wth  ten  acres  of  land  more  ajoyning  to  the  land  aforesd." 
N.  H.  Deeds,  III,  149a. 

It  would  seem,  then,  that  Thomas  Humphreys'  land  began  at 
the  mouth  of  Plum  Swamp  Brook,  near  the  "Falling-off  Place," 
where,  on  the  north  side,  there  is  a  very  old  stone  wall,  that  may 
have  been  a  division  fence.  How  Thomas  Humphreys  acquired 
this  does  not  appear  in  the  records.  His  name  does  not  appear 
in  grants  or  sales  of  land.  He  was  taxed  at  Oyster  River  in  1659 
and  is  called  "Thomas  umfirie  the  stiller,"  or  distiller.  He  evi- 
dently furnished  the  liquid  then  deemed  almost  indispensable. 
He  took  the  oath  of  fidelity  in  1661.  He  married,  1  December 
1665,  Hannah,  daughter  of  John  Lane  of  Hingham   Mass.,  where 


46  HISTORY   OF    DURHAM 

his  sons  had  families  recorded.  He  was  constable,  sergeant  and 
clerk  of  the  writs  at  Sagadahock,  Me.,  in  1674.  He  and  James 
Middleton,  once  of  Oyster  River,  sold  land  on  the  Kennebec  in 
1676.  Mention  is  made  of  his  house  at  Oyster  River,  near  which 
Thomas  Canyda  was  killed  by  the  falling  of  a  tree  in  1660,  as 
said  a  coroner's  jury. 

It  may  be  conjectured  that  Thomas  Humphreys  got  possesr 
sion  of  a  small  lot  on  the  shore  in  this  way:  Thomas  Footman 
owned  land  a  little  north  of  Plum  Swamp  Brook.  He  conveyed 
to  Rice  Howell,  29th  of  the  10th  month,  1654,  one  messuage  or 
tenement  of  land  on  the  northwest  side  of  Little  Bay  next  to  John 
Ault's  lot,  seven  or  eight  acres,  bounded  by  a  freshet  that  runs 
on  the  southwest  side  of  said  land.  This  land  probably  passed 
from  Howell  to  Humphrey.  The  "freshet"  spoken  of  is  Plum 
Swamp  Brook,  on  the  farm  formerly  of  the  late  John  Emerson. 

Mention  has  been  made  of  Richard  Bray,  who  had  a  small  lot 
just  south  of  Plum  Swamp  Brook,  probably  acquired  from  John 
Ault.  He  had  a  grant,  in  1658,  "of  twenty  acres  of  upland  at 
the  head  of  his  lot."  He  was  taxed  in  Exeter  in  1664,  and  there  is 
no  record  of  how  he  disposed  of  his  land  at  Oyster  River.  He 
died  in  1665,  and  his  estate  was  administered  by  his  widow,  Mary, 
appointed  administratrix  10  April  1665,  then  of  Exeter  and  hav- 
ing children,  John  and  Mary.  This  John  Bray  was  of  Middle- 
town,  N.  J.,  31  May  1689,  when  he  sold  to  John  Sleeper  of  Exe- 
ter eighty  acres  in  Exeter.  The  deed  is  also  signed  by  his  mother, 
then  Mary  Whitlock. 

April  3,  1674,  John  Ault  sold  to  his  son-in-law,  Thomas  Ed- 
gerly,  "one  fourth  of  an  acre  of  land  at  west  end  of  a  field  called 
Hilliards"  and  joining  Edgerly's  land,  near  Plum  Swamp.  Did 
Emmanuel  Hilliard  once  live  here,  he  who  was  later  of  Hampton 
and  perished  in  the  Wreck  of  Rivermouth,  as  sung  by  the  poet 
Whittier?  He  seems  to  have  been  the  only  known  Hilliard  in 
New  England  at  that  time. 

We  have  learned  that  Thomas  Footman  exchanged  a  small 
piece  of  land  with  Rice  Howell.  The  latter  was  taxed  in  1648 
and  in  1657.  The  following  deposition  throws  some  light  on 
his  pathway:  "The  Deposition  of  Philip  Chesley  this  deponent 
witnesseth  that  hee  Being  at  a  Bargain  making  between  Thomas 
Johnson  of  Oister  River  and  Rise  Howell  of  the  said  river  which 
was  to  this  effectt  that  if  the  said  Howell  would  leave  the  places 


HISTORY    OF    DURHAM  47 

hee  was  then  in  where  he  had  good  wages  and  come  and  live  with 
the  said  Johnson  hee  should  have  fouer  Ackers  of  Land  joyning 
to  his  feild  the  said  Howell  Breaking  of  it  up  and  house  Roome 
to  dwell  in  all  wch  the  said  howell  was  to  in  Jove  as  Long  as  he 
lived  and  further  saith  not."  Deposed  27  July  1661.  N.  H. 
Court  Records,  I,  87. 

It  has  been  shown  that  Thomas  Footman  owned  a  small  piece 
of  land  north  of  Plum  Swamp  Brook.  He  had  land  from  Henry 
Symson  in  York  previous  to  15  April  1640,  and  lived  there  as 
late  as  1648.  He  had  a  grant  on  the  northern  shore  of  Great 
Bay  in  1653  and  there  he  made  his  home.  It  is  questionable 
whether  he  lived  for  a  short  time  on  the  shore  of  Little  Bay,  al- 
though he  owned  several  pieces  of  land  there. 

There  were  granted  to  John  Hill,  in  1655,  " six  acres  between 
the  land  of  John  Ault  on  the  southwest  and  land  of  Jonas  Bines 
on  the  northwest,  joining  to  a  point  of  land  bought  of  Charles 
Adams."  Here  we  meet  with  Jonas  Bines  again.  Apparently 
about  1648  he  had  not  only  a  grant  near  Branson's  Creek,  as  we 
have  seen,  but  also  "One  house  and  In  lott  conteyning  sixe  acres 
or  there  aboutes  which  hee  bought  of  Thomas  Stephenson  being 
next  to  the  point  at  the  entrance  into  Oyster  River,  Compassed 
wth  the  river  evrie  way  only  the  South  side  and  that  joines  uppon 
the  land  of  Mr.  ffrancis  Matthewes,  .  .  .  alsoe  a  Little 
Island  conteyning  two  acres  or  there  aboutes  being  at  the  en- 
trance into  the  little  Bay  over  against  a  point  called  by  the  name 
of  Charles  point."  On  the  10th  of  the  8th  month,  1653,  Jonas 
Bynes  had  a  grant  of  ten  acres  of  "upland  in  the  head  of  the 
Creeke,  joining  to  his  Marsh,  on  the  east  side  of  the  Creeke," 
and  he  had  ten  acres  more  granted  the  nth  of  the  2d  month, 
1654.  These  grants  were  on  Johnson's  Creek.  Thus  he  had 
at  least  five  small  pieces  of  land  widely  scattered  over  the  planta- 
tion of  Oyster  River.  He  seems  to  have  lived  on  a  small  lot  of 
land  nearly  opposite  Ambler's  Islands.  I  have  found  no  record 
of  the  administration  of  his  estate,  nor  of  transfers  of  his  lands, 
nor  of  any  family. 

Charles  Adams  bought  of  John  Ault,  10  April  1645,  "a  mes- 
suage or  tenement  in  the  plantation  of  Oyster  River,"  for  £20, 
and  also  "so  much  marsh  ground  as  will  keep  three  cows  in  the 
winter  time."  This  seems  to  be  the  land  sold  by  Adams  to  John 
Hill,  and  here  probably  Charles  Adams  first  lived  and  gave  his 


48  HISTORY    OF    DURHAM 

name  to  "Charles  Point,"  later  called  "Ambler's  Point."  Tra- 
dition locates  one  or  more  old  habitations  here,  opposite  Ambler's 
Islands,  which  three  islands  are  spoken  of  in  old  deeds  as  one 
island  of  two  acres,  the  division  into  three  having  been  made  by 
erosion  of  connecting  lands  by  the  waves. 

In  1685  Joseph  Hill  sold  to  John  Smart  the  farm  which  he 
bought  of  his  father,  John  Hill,  "by  ye  Little  Bay  between  the 
plantations  of  Joseph  Kent  and  John  Ault."  Joseph  Smith, 
attorney  for  John  and  Elizabeth  Smart  of  New  York,  conveyed, 
26  March  1703,  to  John  Ambler  land  and  buildings  which  said 
Smart  bought  of  Joseph  Hill,  on  the  westerly  side  of  Little  Bay. 
Here  lived  the  Ambler  family  for  a  long  time.  The  cellar  of  the 
house  probably  built  by  John  Hill  and  lived  in  by  John  Ambler 
is  easily  found,  in  the  edge  of  a  grove  in  Hon.  Jeremiah  Lang- 
ley's  field.  The  site  is  sufficiently  elevated  to  afford  a  fine  view 
of  the  bay  and  the  opposite  shore. 

January  10,  1739,  John  Ambler  conveyed  to  his  son-in-law, 
Ephraim  Libby,  of  Kittery,  all  his  lands  including  the  "home 
place"  and  Island,  and,  27  March  1776,  Ephraim  Libby  sold 
the  same  to  his  son-in-law,  Thomas  Langley,  Jr. 

Next  north  of  the  Hill-Ambler  farm  was  the  homestead  of 
Thomas  Willey,  that  descended  to  his  son,  Stephen,  to  grandson, 
Thomas,  to  great  grandson,  Stephen,  and  to  great,  great  grand- 
son Stephen.  Thomas  Willey,  who  married  Margaret  Crawford, 
deposed  in  1680  that  he  had  lived  at  Oyster  River  forty  years. 
This  takes  us  back  to  1640,  and  he  must  have  been  one  of  the 
first  settlers.  He  was  twenty-three  years  old  in  1640  and  may 
have  lived  in  the  family  of  Darby  Field.  Traces  of  his  dwelling 
place  are  pointed  out  in  the  field  now  belonging  to  Mr.  Edward  I. 
Langley,  perhaps  thirty  rods  from  the  shore  of  the  bay.  The  road 
to  Oyster  River  Falls  is  sometimes  called  the  highway  from  Wil- 
ley 's  Creek,  sometimes  the  highway  from  Bickford's  Ferry.  In 
1658  Thomas  Willey  was  appointed  to  keep  the  "ordinary"  in 
place  of  John  Bickford.  Three  of  the  Willey  family  were  car- 
ried into  captivity  in  1694,  and  the  house  where  Thomas  Willey 
lived  may  then  have  been  burned. 

Much  research  has  been  made  to  thus  make  plain  the  loca- 
tions of  Branson's  Creek,  Long  or  Mill  Creek  and  Plum  Swamp 
Brook,  because  Miss  Mary  P.  Thompson,  in  her  indispensable 
Landmarks  in  Ancient  Dover,  has  made  these  Creeks  the  same  as 


Oyster   River  Plantation 


HISTORY    OF   DURHAM  49 

the  Great  Creek,  Matthews  Creek,  or  later  Crommett's  Creek, 
which  is  near  the  outlet  of  Great  Bay.  This  occasions  confusion 
in  locating  the  earliest  inhabitants.  When  Miss  Thompson  wrote, 
the  Provincial  Records  of  New  Hampshire  had  not  been  indexed, 
which  fact  sufficiently  explains  the  errors  of  that  painstaking  and 
entertaining  writer. 

Once  at  least  Matthews  Creek  is  called  the  Long  Creek,  when, 
in  1653,  ten  acres  were  granted  to  John  Hill  "between  Thomas 
Footmans  grant  &  the  long  creeke  on  the  Nor  west  Side  of  the 
great  Bay." 

South  of  Willey's  Creek  and  some  distance  from  the  shore 
there  are  traces  of  graves,  and  here  was  probably  the  burial 
ground  of  the  Willey  and  Bickford  families. 

Next  north  of  Thomas  Willey  and  at  the  extremity  of  Durham 
Point  lived  as  early  as  1639  Darby  Field,  who  signed  the  so-  * 
called  Exeter  Combination  and  was  the  first  to  explore  the 
White  Mountains.  He  was  licensed  to  sell  wine  in  1644.  Doubt- 
less he  kept  the  ordinary  at  the  Point,  since  we  know  that  John 
Bickford  did  a  little  later,  to  whom  Field  conveyed,  16  July 
1645,  his  house  and  lot,  except  the  breadth  of  a  lot  in  possession 
of  Thomas  Willey.  Here  lived  several  generations  of  the  Bick- 
ford family.  The  garrison,  that  Thomas  Bickford  successfully 
defended  in  1694,  stood  near  the  water,  as  traces  of  a  cellar 
indicate,  in  a  place  beautiful  for  situation.  Here  terminated 
Bickford's  Ferry.  Before  his  door  passed  the  extensive  com- 
merce and  travel  of  a  wide  region.  Some  locate  the  Bickford 
garrison  "a  third  of  the  distance  from  the  shore  to  the  brick 
house,  looking  from  said  house  toward  the  west  side  of  the 
nearest  of  the  Ambler  islands." 

Next  northwest  of  John  Bickford  and  just  within  the  mouth 
of  Oyster  River  were  the  six  acres  granted  to  Jonas  Bines,  which 
he  bought  of  Thomas  Stevenson.  The  place  is  still  known  as 
Jonas'  Point,  sometimes  corrupted  to  Jones'  Point.  Thus  the 
name  of  a  comparative  nobody  is  perpetuated,  while  many 
great  and  worthy  persons  are  soon  forgotten.  What  is  fame? 
There  is  no  discoverable  trace  of  a  habitation  on  this  point, 
and  the  soil  is  comparatively  barren.  It  was  acquired  by  the 
Bickford  family,  and,  8  June  1774,  John  Bickford  conveyed 
to  his  son,  Winthrop  Bickford,  his  homestead  and  six  acres 
"commonly  called  Jonas's  Point." 

4 


50  HISTORY   OF   DURHAM 

Next  let  us  try  to  locate  the  garrison  house  of  Charles  Adams, 
who  very  early  lived  at  Charles  Point,  or  Ambler's  Point,  oppo- 
site Ambler's  Islands.  January  30,  1711/12,  Rebecca  Edgerly, 
daughter  of  John  Ault,  aged  71,  deposed  "that  Charles  Adams 
did  possess  land  within  the  mouth  of  Oyster  River  joining  to 
Francis  Mathes  above  sixty  years  ago  [about  1650]  and  ever 
since  till  Oyster  River  was  destroyed  and  then  the  said  Adams 
was  killed  and  his  house  burned  by  the  enemie."  John  Meader, 
senior,  aged  82,  testified  at  the  same  time  to  the  same  effect. 
In  1656  the  town  of  Dover  granted  to  Charles  Adams  twelve 
acres  of  land.  "It  beginneth  at  a  marked  tree  behind  his  house 
lot  about  a  hundred  Rode  by  the  hieway  side  that  goeth  to 
Oyster  River  Falls  and  runneth  from  that  marked  tree  forty 
eaght  Rod  to  A  marked  tree  west  and  from  that  tree  it  Runneth 
south  sixty  Rode  to  another  marked  tree  and  from  that  marked 
tree  where  it  begune  it  runneth  south  Twenty  eaght  Rode  and 
from  that  tree  it  Runeth  uppon  a  straight  line  west  and  be 
south  or  thear  aboutes  to  the  other  Corner."  This  was  laid 
out  in  1671.  On  the  10th  of  2d  month,  1654,  there  were  granted 
to  John  Bickford  ten  acres  "behinde  the  Lott  of  Charles  Adams" 
and  the  same  day  ten  acres  were  granted  to  Thomas  Willey 
"behinde  the  Lott  of  Charles  Adams." 

In  171 1  Joseph  Dudy,  or  Durrell,  who  had  married  Rebecca 
Adams,  granddaughter  of  the  first  Charles  Adams,  together 
with  his  wife  and  her  sister  Esther  Adams,  conveyed  to  Francis 
Mathes  the  home  plantation  of  Charles  Adams,  estimated  to 
contain  eighteen  acres,  "bounded  on  the  north  with  the  high- 
way that  leads  from  Willeys  Creek  to  Oyster  River  Falls," 
together  with  the  twelve-acre  grant  of  1656  above  described. 
These  conveyances  make  it  perfectly  plain  that  Charles  Adams' 
garrison  stood  south  of  the  present  road,  which  is  the  same  as 
the  ancient  one,  and  the  logical  place,  indeed  the  only  suitable 
place  for  a  house,  is  the  site  of  the  brick  house  built  by  Washing- 
ton Mathes  and  now  in  ruins.  Fourteen  of  the  Adams  family- 
perished  in  the  massacre  of  1694,  and  one  at  least,  Ursula,  was 
taken  to  Canada,  never  to  return.  The  bodies  of  the  fourteen 
were  buried  under  a  little  mound  close  to  the  tomb  on  the  east 
side  of  the  Mathes  burial  ground,  a  pathetic  reminder  of  the 
hardships  and  sufferings  of  those  who  prepared  this  beautiful 
land  for  us. 


HISTORY   OF    DURHAM 


51 


The  next  lot  of  land  west  of  Darby  Field,  or  John  Bickford, 
and  abutting  on  Oyster  River,  originally  belonged  to  William 
Beard,  who  conveyed  it  to  Francis  Matthews,  in  June  1640. 
Francis  Matthews  was  one  of  Capt.  John  Mason's  colonists 
in  1634,  the  same  who  married,  22  November  1622,  Thomasine 
Channon,  at  Ottery  St.  Mary,  Devonshire.  Since  1640  the 
land  has  been  in  the  unbroken  possession  of  the  Matthews, 
now  Mathes,  family.  The  first  house  is  said  to  have  stood 
a  little  north  of  the  site  of  the  present  one.  It  withstood  the 
attack  of  the  Indians  in  1694. 


Comfort  Mathes  Camp 
Owned  by  Miss  Fannie  Pendexter  Mathes.     Once  the  residence  of  the  late 
Benjamin  and  Comfort  (Smart)  Mathes 


Matthew  Giles  first  owned  the  next  lot  up  the  river,  and  the 
middle  of  the  channel  of  the  little  creek  was  the  dividing  line 
between  the  two  lots.  "Giles old  field  lying  between  two  creeks" 
is  repeatedly  mentioned  in  old  deeds.  He  died  in  1666  and  his 
estate  was  divided  between  Matthew  Williams  and  Richard 
Knight.  The  latter  sold  it  to  William  Pitman,  who  willed  it 
to  his  son,  Francis,  and  Francis  Pitman  sold  it  to  Edward  Wake- 
ham,  weaver,  2  May  1695.  Wakeham  had  married  Sarah 
Meader  from  the  other  side  of  the  river  and  at  its  mouth,  and 


52  HISTORY    OF   DURHAM 

here  his  son,  Caleb,  lived  till  he  perished  in  a  storm,  in  1770, 
"supposed  to  be  much  in  liquor,"  as  Schoolmaster  Tate  says. 
The  creek  on  the  west  side  of  Wakeham's  lot  was  long  known 
as  Wakeham's  Creek,  earlier  as  Giles  Creek. 

Francis  Pitman  sold  a  portion  of  the  old  Giles  farm  to  Nicholas 
Dunn,  who  was  taxed  at  Oyster  River  in  1680.  On  the  18th 
of  October  1699,  Elizabeth  Dunn,  "who  was  ye  wife  of  Nicholas 
Dunn,"  of  Oyster  River,  conveyed  to  Edward  Wakeham  land 
joining  to  said  Wakeham's  land,  that  was  bought  of  Francis 
Pitman.     N.  H.  Prov.  Deeds,  X,  369. 

The  next  lot  west  of  Wakeham's  Creek  was  first  owned  by 
Darby  Field,  conveyed  by  him  to  William  Roberts,  and  by  him 
to  William  Drew  before  1648.  Doubtless  Drew  was  the  first 
one  to  live  here,  and  the  place  was  long  known  as  Drew's  Point. 
The  cellar  of  his  garrison  house  may  be  plainly  seen  and  traces 
of  the  orchard  around  it.  The  house  was  burned  in  1694. 
Stephen  Jenkins  acquired  this  place,  10  May  17 12,  and  sold 
it  to  James  Langley,  5  November  1714,  and  here  lived  several 
generations  of  the  Langley  family.  This  with  the  Wakeham 
farm  eventually  came  into  the  possession  of  the  Mathes  family, 
who  seem  to  have  gradually  bought  everything  that  joined  them. 

Between  this  lot  and  the  next  a  road  was  laid  out  in  1715 
on  petition  of  James  Langley.  His  next  neighbor  up  the  river 
was  Bartholomew  Stevenson,  son  of  Thomas.  On  the  nth  of 
the  fifth  month,  1644,  three  acres  at  the  Oyster  Point  were 
granted  to  Thomas  Stevenson,  and  the  neck  of  land  opposite. 
September  3,  1680,  Thomas  Willey,  aged  63,  and  Margaret 
Willey  his  wife,  aged  65,  deposed  that  they  had  lived  in  Oyster 
River  forty  years  or  thereabouts,  that  Thomas  Stevenson 
cultivated  his  neck  of  land  forty  years  ago  near  the  Oyster 
Bank,  commonly  called  Stevenson's  Neck.  This  carries  Thomas 
Stevenson  back  to  1640,  evidently  one  of  the  earliest  settlers, 
who  had  cultivated  land  here  some  years  before  he  received  a 
formal  town  grant.  The  western  boundary  of  Stevenson's  land 
was  called  Stevenson's  Creek,  into  which  flowed  Stoney  Brook 
from  the  southwest.  Two  acres  of  marsh  near  the  mouth  of 
Stevenson's  Creek  very  early  belonged  to  Joseph  Field  and  is 
repeatedly  mentioned  in  deeds. 

On  the  neck  of  land  between  Oyster  River  and  Stevenson's 
Creek,  at  the  extreme  point  is  the  cellar  of  Thomas  Stevenson, 


HISTORY   OF   DURHAM  53 

a  deep  excavation,  with  split  stone  around  it  and  an  old  wall 
and  apple  tree  behind  it.  The  gently  sloping  ledge  in  front  of 
it  served  as  a  convenient  landing.  The  place  is  now  surrounded 
by  woods.  On  the  highest  point  of  this  neck  of  land  are  found 
in  the  edge  of  the  grove  bricks  and  indications  that  here  may 
have  once  been  a  house.  The  view  up  the  river  is  one  of  the 
very  best.  In  about  the  center  of  the  spacious  field  is  a.  low 
mound,  and  here  are  found  several  rough  oblong  granite  stones 
similar  to  those  used  to  mark  graves  in  early  times. 

Above  Stevenson's  Creek  a  lot  was  granted,  10  August  1653, 
to  John  Pillin,  called  also  Pillion,  Pillon,  and  Pelline  in  deeds, 
"forty  acres  of  land  beinge  upon  the  noe  west  side  of  Stoney 
Brooke."  Little  is  known  of  John  Pillin.  John  Goddard  may 
have  administered  his  estate,  for  he  sold  this  lot,  6  April  1659, 
to  William  Williams,  senior,  forty  acres  on  the  south  side  of 
Oyster  River,  "butting  upon  a  creek  commonly  called  Stimpsons 
Creek,  which  was  John  Pillions  with  ye  necke  of  land  wch  lyes 
betweene  Stoney  Brooke  &  the  Meeting  house  Lott."  William 
Williams  and  wife  Agnes  conveyed  this  lot,  bounded  in  like 
manner,  18  June  1674,  to  Joseph  Field.  Zachary  Field,  brother 
to  Joseph,  sold  it  to  John  Davis,  11  December  17 10.  On  the 
22d  of  July  1680  there  was  an  agreement  made  between  Nicholas 
Follet  and  Joseph  Stevenson  about  bounds  of  land  "neare  to 
ffollets  now  dwelling  house  &  adjoining  to  Joseph  Fields  marsh 
and  sd  Stevensons  land."  This  appears  to  be  the  land  lying 
between  Stevenson's  Creek  and  Stoney  Brook,  not  extending 
down  to  the  river.     See  N.  H.  Prov.  Deeds,  III,  158a. 

March  26,  1701,  Nicholas  Follett  and  wife,  Mary,  sold  to 
Nathaniel  Meader  all  lands  of  his  father  in  Oyster  River,  in- 
cluding that  fenced  land  he  died  possessed  of,  bounded  with 
the  land  of  Joseph  Stevenson  "on  ye  east  and  land  of  Joseph 
Field  on  ye  north  and  ye  lands  of  Thomas  Drew  on  ye  south." 
Meader  sold  this  to  Thomas  Footman,  and  it  descended  to  his 
son,  Francis  Footman,  and  from  him  to  his  son,  Thomas  Foot- 
man, by  division  of  estate  in  1774,  forty  acres  bounded  on  the 
west  by  Daniel  Davis.  This  lot  now  contains  the  eastern 
field  of  Mr.  Clarence  I.  Smart's  farm,  and  on  a  little  hill  in  this 
field  may  be  seen  the  deep  cellar  of  what  tradition  says  was  a 
garrison  house.  It  is  somewhat  concealed  by  a  clump  of  trees. 
Here,  doubtless,  lived  Nicholas  Follett.     Not  far  distant  in  a 


54  HISTORY   OF    DURHAM 

northerly  direction  and  just  where  Stoney  Brook  broadens 
into  Stevenson's  Creek  are  plain  evidences  of  an  old  wharf  or 
landing  place,  where  the  boats  of  Nicholas  Follett,  mariner, 
must  have  been  moored. 

On  the  lot  originally  that  of  John  Pillin  and  later  belonging 
to  Daniel  Davis  a  house  once  stood  on  a  hilltop  in  Mr.  Smart's 
field.  The  cellar  has  been  filled  till  not  a  trace  remains.  At 
this  point  of  view  one  looks  down  upon  the  slate  tombstone  in 
the  field,  where  rests  the  body  of  Ivory  H.  Willey,  who  died 
30  September  1832,  aged  22  years  and  5  months.  As  much 
further  beyond  one  sees  a  clump  of  trees  and  close  beside  it, 
at  the  extreme  point  of  land,  is  a  very  old  landing  place,  repaired 
by  Dea.  James  Munroe  Smart  in  his  day.  From  this  place 
have  been  shipped  to  Portsmouth  many  loads  of  quarried  stone 
and  of  brick  dug  out  of  this  farm. 

Not  far  from  the  main  road  and  east  of  Mr.  Smart's  house 
is  the  cellar  of  the  house  where  lived  Abijah  Pinkham,  whose 
burial  place  with  broken  down  marble  tombstones  is  hidden 
from  view  by  overgrowing  shrubbery.  It  was  walled  in,  a 
short  distance  northerly  of  where  the  old  barn  stood.  Here 
also  lies  the  body  of  his  wife,  Rachel  (Huckins)  Pinkham,  and 
there  are  indications  of  several  other  graves.  The  inscriptions 
that  can  be  read  appear  in  the  genealogical  notes  on  the  Pink- 
ham family,  in  this  history. 

We  come  now  to  the  meeting  house  lot.  A  meeting  house 
was  built  here  by  Valentine  Hill,  in  1655,  and  a  parsonage  was 
built  the  following  year,  but  the  formal  grant  for  the  use  of  the 
ministry  was  not  made  till  20  September  1668.  Then  sixty 
acres  were  granted  by  the  selectmen  "for  the  meeting  house  and 
burying  place."  "It  runes  from  ye  water  side  next  to  William 
Williams  sener  his  Lot  and  it  Runs  thear  along  the  highway 
from  the  water  side  south  west  324  rods  to  a  whit  oak  tree  marked 
on  both  Sids  and  from  the  tree  it  Runes  south  east  35  Rods  to 
a  pitch  Pine  with  4  Rod  alowed  ye  Length  for  a  high  way  and 
from  that  tree  it  Runs  northeast  to  John  Palles  Lot  and  soe 
by  it  to  the  water  side  by  the  same  point  and  we  have  alowed 
fower  Rod  in  the  Length  of  it  for  A  high  way  to  go  across  the 
lot.  This  is  the  Towne  Lott  only  exsempting  Joseph  Fields 
marsh  which  is  in  some  part  of  the  front  of  it."  In  1762  there 
is  an  article  in  the  warrant  for  town  meeting,  "to  see  whether 


HISTORY   OF   DURHAM  55 

the  town  will  choose  a  committee  to  settle  the  boundary  of  the 
parsonage  Lott  near  the  Oyster  Bed  where  the  old  meeting 
house  formerly  stood."  Agreeably  to  this  a  committee,  con- 
sisting of  Joseph  Smith,  Jeremiah  Burnham,  and  Ebenezer 
Thompson,  renewed  the  boundaries  of  the  lot,  7  May  1774. 
"We  began  at  the  River  side  by  a  small  alder  And  run  South 
west  324  Rods  (going  across  a  Rock  near  the  house  formerly 
Stephen  Jenkans  Deceased)  to  a  Saplin  pine  and  spotted  it  on 
four  sides  and  then  South  East  35  Rods  to  a  Picked  Rock  and 
marked  it  T.  L.  and  then  North  East  324  Rods  to  the  River 
and  then  to  the  first  bounds  and  we  find  that  in  runing  these 
points  we  include  about  one  acre  of  Fields  Marsh  (so  called)." 
.  .  .  "We  have  also  run  out  Two  acres  of  Land  for  the  use 
of  the  Town  aforesaid  that  is  now  in  possession  of  the  heirs  of 
Daniel  Davis  Deceased  by  their  liberty.  We  began  by  the 
water  side  adjoining  said  Town  lot  at  the  place  where  was  the 
old  Burying  place  &  Run  South  west  29  Rods,  and  then  began 
again  at  said  water  side  and  run  south  67°  East  12  rods  then 
S.  W.  25  rods  and  then  to  the  place  where  the  29  rods  ended." 
Here,  then,  were  the  first  church  and  parsonage  and  the  oldest 
burial  ground  in  Durham,  on  a  little  plot  of  ground  in  the 
part  of  the  parsonage  lot  that  lies  close  to  the  river.  Here  is  a 
slightly  elevated  ridge  of  land  now  covered  with  a  clump  of  trees 
and  bushes.  Search  failed  to  disclose  any  signs  of  graves.  The 
first  church  must  have  stood  near  by  on  the  river  bank.  The 
parsonage  was  probably  on  higher  ground,  but  no  trace  of  a 
cellar  has  been  discovered.     Here  lived  the  Rev.  John  Buss. 

The  road  which  formed  the  western  part  of  the  meeting  house 
lot  was  only  a  bridle  path.  The  next  lot  was  that  of  William 
Williams.  Just  when  he  settled  here  is  unknown,  but  he  came 
with  Thomas  Wiggin  to  Dover  Neck  in  1633.  There  were 
granted  to  William  Williams,  senior,  24  August  1651,  twenty 
acres  bounded  then  by  lands  of  John  Bickford  and  Mr.  Am- 
brose Gibbons,  "from  William  Williams  his  house  to  the  next 
creek  westward  and  from  his  house  to  the  eastward  eight 
rods."  In  1665  he  had  a  grant  of  twenty  acres  more,  "to  be 
joined  to  his  house  loot  bounded  twelve  pooll  by  the  water 
side  next  to  the  meeting  house  and  the  rest  adjoining  to  his 
former  loot  backwards."  William  Williams  and  wife,  Mary, 
and  Samuel  Hill  and  wife,  Elizabeth,  23  March  1686,  conveyed 


56  HISTORY   OF   DURHAM 

to  Stephen  Jenkins  of  Kittery  land  "on  which  the  aforesaid 
William  Williams  now  liveth,  containing  f forty  acres  as  it  is 
bounded  between  the  lands  called  Roberts  his  Land  on  the 
North  west  and  the  High  way  or  the  Ministers  Lot  on  the  South 
east,  and  butting  upon  Oyster  River."  Here  the  Jenkins  family 
lived  a  long  time.  Stephen  Jenkins'  house  stood  on  or  very 
near  the  site  of  the  old  house  now  standing  on  the  hilltop,  and 
William  Williams  lived,  as  the  above  citation  shows,  near  the 
river  bank,  twenty  rods  west  of  the  parsonage  lot.  The  Mathes 
brickyard  accounts  for  the  disappearance  of  the  cellar. 

March  6,  1743/4,  John  Jenkins  and  Rebecca,  his  wife,  sold 
to  Valentine  Mathes  thirty  acres  which  he  purchased  of  his 
father,  Stephen  Jenkins,  bounded  on  "ye  west  or  norwest  side 
by  land  now  in  possession  of  Jeremiah  Burnham  and  Robert 
Burnham,  on  ye  north  or  northeast  side  by  ye  town  Lot,  on  east 
or  south  side  by  a  high  way  yfc  leads  from  ye  town  Lot  to  a  Place 
called  Long  Marsh." 

William  Roberts  lived  on  the  next  lot  west,  the  same  who  was 
killed  by  Indians  in  1675.  He  sold  a  piece  next  to  the  road, 
on  the  back  side  of  his  lot  to  Thomas  Doughty,  who  sold  it  to 
John  Cutts  of  Portsmouth  in  1667.  The  place  still  goes  by  the 
name  of  Cutts'  Hill.  In  1664  Roberts  gave  a  deed  of  his  remain- 
ing land  to  William  Pitman,  who  had  been  living  there  since 
earlier  than  1657  and  had,  perhaps,  married  Roberts'  daughter, 
Ann.  In  the  sale  to  "William  Pitman  &  to  his  Eldest  son 
Ezekiel  Pitman"  the  land  is  described  as  adjacent  to  "Rob* 
Burnhams  lands  on  the  north  west  side  of  it  And  Thomas  Dow- 
ties  on  the  South  east  side  to  a  marked  tree  at  ye  lower  end 
of  the  fresh  marsh  &  from  thence  along  the  brow  of  ye  Hill  till 
it  meet  with  Robert  Burnhams  line  and  from  thence  along 
his  line  to  Oyster  River  &  ye  River  bounds  ye  other  end."  The 
price  was  sixteen  pounds.  Here  lived  the  Pitman  family  many 
years.  The  southerly  end  of  the  farm  on  the  south  side  of  the 
main  road  is  still  known  as  the  Pitman  field. 

The  next  lot  west  of  Roberts'  land  was  originally  owned  by 
Ambrose  Gibbons,  the  leader  of  Capt.  John  Mason's  colony 
in  the  settlement  at  Great  Works,  now  in  South  Berwick,  Me. 
He  settled  here  before  1640,  and  on  the  5th  of  the  10th  month, 
1652,  he  had  a  grant  of  land  adjoining  his  marsh  from  the  "creek 
between  his  land  and  William  Roberts"  to  the  "western  creek." 


HISTORY   OF   DURHAM  57 

This  grant  of  two  hundred  acres  he  willed  to  Henry  Sherburne 
of  Portsmouth,  who  had  married  his  only  child,  Rebecca  Gibbons. 
On  the  1 2th  of  May  1657,  Henry  Sherburne,  for  £100,  conveyed 
to  Robert  Burnham  of  Oyster  River  "one  dwelling  house  with 
the  out  howses  appertayning  thereto  with  all  the  lands  which 
the  said  Ambrose  Gibbins  Dyed  possessed  off,"  "betweene  the 
Creeke  upon  the  lands  of  William  Pitman,  formerly  William 
Roberts,  toward  the  South  East  and  a  certayne  Creeke  towards 
the  west  abutting  upon  said  River  called  Oyster  River  towards 
the  east  and  so  runneth  up  into  the  woods  towards  the  South 
to  the  quantity  of  about  two  hundred  acres,"  "and  also  all 
the  meadow  lying  in  Oyster  River  aforesaid  which  the  said  Am- 
bros  Gibbins  Dyed  possessed  off."  See  Suffolk  Deeds,  III,  17. 
The  original  deed  is  in  the  possession  of  S.  H.  Shackford,  Esq., 
Boston.  The  land  was  laid  out  to  Robert  Burnham  in  1661, 
one  hundred  rods  on  the  river  and  running  southwest  388  rods, 
"from  the  head  of  the  creeke  near  William  Pitmans  house 
upon  a  south  west  line  388  rods  long  and  it  lieth  from  Benjamin 
Mathewes  his  lote  sid  south  so  west  the  breadth  of  this  lote," 
as  the  Dover  records  say.  The  Burnham  garrison  house, — and 
probably  this  was  the  house  of  Ambrose  Gibbons,  stood  on 
the  hilltop,  where  the  old  cellar  may  be  plainly  seen,  as  well  as 
the  cellar  of  a  smaller  house  or  out-building  near  by.  Ezekiel 
Pitman  lived  within  gunshot  at  the  time  of  the  massacre  in  1694 
and  hearing  cries  of  alarm  escaped  with  his  family  to  the  Burn- 
ham garrison,  while  his  own  house  was  burned.  See  Landmarks 
in  Ancient  Dover,  p.  180. 

The  land  between  the  grant  to  Ambrose  Gibbons  and  the 
Sullivan  place  was  originally  granted  to  Benjamin  Matthews. 
June  26,  1682,  John  Mighell  of  Newbury  sold  to  John  Davis, 
junior,  forty  acres  which  he  bought  of  Benjamin  Matthews, 
2  January  1673,  which  deed  is  not  recorded.  John  Davis, 
junior,  was  here  killed  by  Indians,  with  wife  and  two  children, 
in  the  massacre  of  1694.  Jeremiah  Burnham  was  made  admin- 
istrator of  his  estate  in  1702.  He  left  a  daughter,  Sarah,  who 
returned  from  captivity  in  Canada  and  married  Peter  Mason. 
She  conveyed  to  John  Sullivan,  26  September  1771 ,  thirty  acres 
of  the  homestead  on  the  south  side  of  the  highway  from  the 
parsonage  house  to  Durham  Point.  See  Landmarks  in  Ancient 
Dover,  by  Miss  Mary  P.  Thompson,  p.  260. 


58  HISTORY   OF    DURHAM 

The  fact  that  Benjamin  Matthews  owned  this  land  is  further 
evidenced  by  a  town  record,  dated  9th  of  9th  month,  1661, 
when  the  lot  of  land  granted  to  Ambrose  Gibbons  was  laid  out 
to  Robert  Burnham,  "from  the  head  of  the  creek  near  William 
Pitman's  house,"  380  rods  long,  "and  it  lieth  from  Benjamin 
Mathews  his  lote  sid  south  so  west,"  the  breadth  being  one  hun- 
dred rods. 

The  early  history  of  the  next  lot  north  of  John  Davis'  is  best 
told  in  the  following  citation  from  a  deed,  dated  29  March  1682. 
John  Mighell  (pronounced  M-i-l-e)  of  Newbury  sold  to  Samuel 
Burnham  "a  certain  house  Lott  with  a  Dwelling  house  on  it 
ye  Lott  is  Layd  out  &  bounded  for  ten  acres  as  will  appear  by 
the  return  of  it  of  y°  Lott  Layers,  according  to  ye  grant  of  ye 
sd  Towne,  this  dwelling  house  wth  ye  Lott  &  all  other  priviledges 
&  app*nances  there  unto  belonging  with  a  grant  of  four  acres 
more  adjoining  to  ye  sd  ten  acres  at  ye  south  end  of  it,  if  it  be 
to  be  found  in  ye  records  of  ye  Town  of  Dover  aforesd.  This 
Lott  was  granted  to  Joseph  Field  by  ye  Town  of  Dover  &  by 
him  sold  to  James  Smith  of  ye  same  town  &  ye  sd  James  Smith 
sold  this  portion  of  land  to  Thomas  Mighell  as  doth  appear  by 
a  bill  of  sale  under  his  hand  the  28th  day  of  8th  mo  1668  & 
this  bill  of  sale  was  assigned  to  Jn°  Mighell  his  brother  to  be 
as  good  to  him,  his  heirs  &  success"  as  it  was  to  Thomas  Mighell." 
Witnesses,  James  Huckins  and  William  Johnson.  N.  H.  Prov. 
Deeds,  III,  173b. 

This  John  Mighell  took  oath  as  constable  of  Dover  30  June 
1674.  He  witnessed  a  deed  in  1669  and  was  a  juror  in  1672. 
The  Mighell  family  still  has  representatives  in  Rowley,  Mass. 

April  24,  1718,  James  Burnham,  son  of  the  Samuel  Burnham 
just  named,  sold  to  Samuel  Smith  eighteen  acres  which  were 
sold  by  John  Miles  to  Samuel  Burnham,  except  one  and  a  half 
acres  sold  to  Hugh  Adams.  October  22,  1718,  James  and  Mary 
Burnham  sold  to  Jonathan  Crosby  land  and  buildings  south 
of  Oyster  River,  which  had  been  sold  by  John  Miles  to  Samuel 
Burnham.  August  7,  1717,  James  Burnham  and  wife  Mary 
sold  to  Hugh  Adams,  minister  of  the  Gospel,  one  acre  and  a 
half  "near  to  ye  new  meeting  house  near  the  falls,"  bounded 
"northward  on  the  sd  Oyster  River,  northwest  on  ye  Landing 
place  adjoining  to  and  behind  the  sd  meeting  house  by  a  straight 
line  running  from  ye  Corner  of  ye  same  at  the  sd  River  south 


HISTORY   OF   DURHAM  59 

westerly  to  an  heap  of  stones  by  a  pine  bush  distant  from  the 
south  east  corner  of  the  said  meeting  house  just  two  rods  five 
feet  and  one  inch,  southwestward  by  other  lands  belonging  to 
me"  nine  rods,  then  northeastward  twenty-eight  rods,  thence 
seven  or  eight  rods  northwest  by  north  to  a  flat  rock  at  the 
edge  or  brinke  of  the  River.  Witnesses,  Nathaniel  Hill,  John 
Smith,  and  Joseph  Buss.     N.  H.  Prov.  Deeds,  X,  325. 

April  12,  1720,  Dr.  Jonathan  Crosby  and  wife,  Hannah, 
sold  to  "Hugh  Adams  Cler.  minister  of  the  Gospel,  one  and 
three  quarters  acres  'near  ye  uper  Meeting  house  at  ye  first 
falls,'  three  rods  to  the  eastward  of  his  said  land  and  two  rods 
to  ye  southward  thereof,  from  the  southeast  corner  of  his  home- 
stead land  one  and  a  half  rods  east  southeast  unto  a  Larg  Pitch 
Pine,  thence  twenty-three  rods  to  a  Larg  Black  Oak,  thence 
north  and  by  west  thirteen  rods  to  the  river,  thence  three  and 
a  half  rods  to  a  fiat  rock."  Witnesses,  Humphrey  Sullivan, 
Thomas  Wille,  William  Pitman.     N.  H.  Prov.  Deeds,  XI,  402. 

February  4,  1741,  Hugh  Adams  and  wife,  Susanna,  sold  to 
John  Adams  of  Boston,  merchant,  a  parcel  of  land  at  "ye  Land- 
ing place  near  the  meeting  house,  bounded  southerly  on  land 
belonging  to  Daniel  Rogers  and  Samuel  Smith,  beginning  two 
rods  and  five  feet  from  the  southeast  corner  of  the  meeting  house, 
on  a  straight  line  and  southeast  course  twenty-two  rods  easterly 
to  a  pine  tree,  thence  northerly  by  a  stone  wall  sixteen  rods, 
thence  westerly  by  a  straight  line  to  the  landing  place  twelve 
feet  distant  from  ye  south  end  of  ye  house  belonging  to  Samuel 
Adams,  thence  on  ye  landing  place  southwesterly  to  ye  first 
bounds  by  ye  meeting  house,  with  ye  Dwelling  house,  Barn, 
orchard,  etc."     N.  H.  Prov.  Deeds,  XXV,  467. 

This  was  sold,  3  October  1764,  by  John  and  Annee  Adams 
of  Boston  to  Joseph  Drew,  who  had  married  Elizabeth,  daughter 
of  the  Rev.  Hugh  Adams,  and  Joseph  Drew  sold  it,  4  October 
1764,  to  Daniel  Warner. 

June  2,  1743,  Hugh  and  Susanna  Adams,  for  fifty  pounds, 
sold  to  Samuel  Adams,  physician,  "all  ye  remainder  part  of 
my  homestead  Lot  or  Tract  of  Land  lying  &  being  in  Durham 
nigh  ye  falls  Meeting  house."  bounded  "by  land  I  sold  to  my 
son  Jn°  on  ye  South,  by  land  of  Samuel  Smith  Esq  on  ye  East, 
ye  River  on  ye  North,  &  westly  by  ye  High  way  or  Landing 
place  so  called,  on  which  my  sd  son  Sam1  has  built  an  house 


60  HISTORY    OF   DURHAM 

&  barn."  Witnesses,  Joseph  Drew  and  Elizabeth  Drew.  N.  H. 
Prov.  Deeds,  XXVIII,  143. 

Dr.  Samuel  Adams  lived  here,  in  a  house  which  he  himself 
built,  till  his  death  in  1762.  His  widow,  Rebecca  Adams, 
19  December  1764,  sold  to  John  Sullivan,  for  2300  pounds, 
old  tenor,  three  acres  bounded  "Northwesterly  on  the  high 
Way  or  landing  place,  South  Westerly  on  lands  in  Possession 
of  Joseph  Drew,  South  easterly  on  lands  of  Joseph  Smith  Esqr 
Easterly  by  Oyster  River  (so  called),  with  the  Buildings  & 
appur3  thereunto  belonging."  Witnesses,  Joseph  Smith  and 
Winborn  Adams. 

Thus  we  have  the  history  of  the  lot  of  land  on  which  stands 
the  old  Sullivan  house  so-called,  built  by  Dr.  Samuel  Adams 
some  time  before   1741. 

James  Smith  and  his  descendants  lived  on  the  west  side  of 
the  road  that  ran  in  front  of  the  meeting  house  after  it  was  built 
about  1716,  and  here  his  son,  John,  kept  an  "ordinary."  Later 
Winborn  Adams  bought  a  small  lot  here  and  he,  too,  had  an 
ordinary.  The  Smith  land  extended  toward  Broth  Hill,  where 
Valentine  Hill's  "  seven_Scots  "  had  a  small  grant,  extending 
down  to  the  "freshet"  or  mill-pond.  Here  lived  John  Hudson, 
Edward  Patterson,  Henry  Brown,  James  Oar  and  other  Scotch- 
men. Later  James  Smith  acquired  all  this  land.  Still  further 
west,  on  the  road  to  Lamprey  River,  now  Newmarket,  we  come 
to  Denbow's  Brook,  near  which  lived  Salathiel  Denbow,  or 
Dinsmore,  as  later  generations  write  their  surname. 

The  land  at  the  mouth  of  Oyster  River,  on  the  north  side,  was 
granted  to  Valentine  Hill,  5  May  1643,  "land  from  a  Creeke  over 
against  Thomas  Stephenson  at  Oyster  River  that  hath  an  Island 
in  the  mouth  of  it  to  the  head  of  that  Creeke  in  Royalls  Cove, 
to  y*  part  of  the  North  East  of  Mr.  Roberts  his  marsh,  reserving 
to  Mr.  Roberts  Marsh  and  twenty  acres  of  Upland,  all  the  rest 
of  that  Neck  we  give  to  Mr.  Hill  &  one  hundred  acres  more  up 
in  the  country."  The  first  grant  included  what  is  now  known 
as  Tickle  Point,  where  the  boundary  lines  of  Durham,  Madbury 
and  Dover  converge  to  a  point.  The  place  is  called  in  old  records 
"Hills  Neck."  The  second  grant  to  Hill  was  at  Wheelwright's 
Pond,  in  what  is  now  Lee. 

The  neck  of  land  between  the  mouth  of  Oyster  River  and  Roy- 
all's  Cove  was  acquired  in  part  by  John  Meader  by  purchase 


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62  HISTORY    OF    DURHAM 

from  Valentine  Hill,  20  September  1660,  and  a  part  was  a  grant 
to  him  and  William  Sheffield  in  1656.  On  the  northeast  were 
lands  of  Thomas  Leighton.  Here  John  Meader  had  a  garrison 
house  and  here  lived  several  generations  of  the  Meader  family, 
many  of  whom  were  Quakers.  The  adjoining  Leighton  farm 
stretched  toward  what  is  now  called  Atkinson's  Hill,  from  the 
top  of  which  is  gained  one  of  the  most  beautiful  views  in  New 
England. 


Bunker  Garrison 

Valentine  Hill  conveyed  the  rest  of  his  land  on  the  north  side 
of  Oyster  River  and  next  west  of  Header's  land,  sixty  acres,  to 
John  Davis  of  Haverhill,  Mass.,  14  August  1654,  "beginning  at 
the  mouth  of  a  creek  and  extending  west  southwest  to  Stoney 
Brook  Cove."  The  cellar  of  his  garrison  house  that  his  son, 
Col.  James  Davis,  successfully  defended  in  1694  is  easily  found 
close  to  the  west  side  of  a  little  creek  and  on  elevated  ground. 
The  family  burial  ground  is  in  the  field  near  by. 

Next  west  of  John  Davis  was  a  grant  of  forty  acres,  made  to 
Matthew  Williams,  who  sold  it  to  Joseph  Smith,  14  September 


64  HISTORY   OF   DURHAM 

1660.  On  the  31st  of  the  7th  month,  1660,  there  were  "given 
and  granted  unto  Joseph  Smith  his  heirs  and  assigns  one  small 
parcel  of  wast  land  on  the  north  side  of  Oyster  River  for  a  house 
lot,  provided  it  intrench  not  upon  anie  former  grant,  which  sayd 
land  lyeth  Between  the  lott  of  Matthew  Willyames  and  the  lot 
of  Wm  Willyames  Juner."  In  1693  he  had  a  grant  of  ten  acres 
more  adjoining  his  land  on  the  northwest. 

William  Williams,  junior,  had  his  grant  of  twenty  acres  10 
August  1653,  beginning  at  the  mouth  of  a  creek  below  Oyster 
Point.  It  is  now  known  as  Bunker's  Creek.  Oyster  Point  lies 
between  the  west  side  of  this  creek  and  the  river.  Here  and  on 
the  opposite  side  of  the  river  were  the  oyster  beds  that  gave  name 
to  the  river  and  plantation.  Oysters  may  be  found  here  at  the 
present  time. 

The  land  between  Bunker's  Creek  and  Johnson's  Creek  was 
granted  10  August  1653,  to  James  Bunker  and  William  Follett 
and  later  it  all  came  into  the  possession  of  the  Bunker  family, 
containing  236  acres.  The  remains  of  the  old  Bunker  garrison 
on  the  hill  west  of  Bunker's  Creek  are  sadly  visible.  It  is  a 
shame  to  let  such  a  historic  landmark  go  to  ruin. 

Johnson's  Creek  was  so  named  from  Thomas  Johnson,  who 
sold  a  lot  on  Dover  Neck  to  William  Pomfret  in  1639.  He  had  a 
grant  of  one  hundred  acres  of  upland  next  to  Philip  Chesley's 
land.  Ambrose  Gibbons  had  permission  to  erect  a  saw  mill  at 
the  head  of  this  creek  in  1652.  Johnson  died  intestate  and  left 
no  children,  and  his  land  was  regranted  to  Stephen  Jones  in  1672, 
and  thereafter  the  lower  portion  of  the  creek  was  called  Jones' 
Creek.  William  Storey,  or  Storer,  had  one  hundred  and  forty 
acres  on  the  east  side  of  the  creek,  not  fronting  on  the  river,  one 
hundred  acres  of  which  were  owned  later  by  Joseph  Jenkins, 
neighbor  to  Nathaniel  Lomax,  Lamos  or  Lummis,  and  the  rest 
was  bought  by  Abraham  Clark. 

Jones'  garrison  stood  on  the  upper,  or  west  side  of  the  creek, 
not  far  from  the  river.  It  was  burned  before  1732.  The  site  of 
the  garrison  is  made  known  by  a  depression  containing  broken 
bricks,  pieces  of  pottery  and  of  flint.  It  is  about  five  or  six  rods 
north  of  the  road  leading  to  "  Piscataqua  Bridge"  and  about  ten 
or  twelve  rods  from  the  Chesley  division  line,  on  the  plain  below 
the  walled  burial  place  of  the  Jones  family.  The  present  house 
on  the  Jones  farm  was  built  about  one  hundred  years  ago.     The 


HISTORY    OF   DURHAM  65 

farm  is  now  owned  by  Dr.  Alice  Chesley  of  Exeter,  whose  mother 
was  Harriet  Dustin  Jones,  wife  of  Lafayette  Chesley. 

Next  west  of  Jones  and  between  him  and  William  Beard's 
land  was  the  home  land  of  Philip  Chesley.  He  had  a  grant  of 
twenty  acres  near  Cochecho  in  1644  and  still  earlier  he  had  a 
house  lot  of  three  and  a  half  acres  on  Dover  neck,  which  he  sold 
to  Thomas  Leighton.  No  evidence  has  been  found  that  he  ever 
lived  at  Lubberland,  as  some  have  asserted.  He  had  a  condi- 
tional grant  in  Exeter  at  an  early  date  but  never  fulfilled  the 
conditions.  In  1664  he  deeded  to  his  son,  Philip,  the  "neck  of 
land"  whereon  he  lived,  excepting  the  half  already  given  to  son, 
Thomas.  April  23,  1675,  there  were  "laid  out  to  Thomas  Ches- 
ley ten  acres  of  land  bought  of  the  Towne  at  the  head  of  his 
fathers  land  upon  ye  neck  on  ye  north  side  of  ye  highway  on  ye 
west  side  of  his  brothers  land  joining  to  his  brothers  land  on  the 
west  side  and  runs  in  length  forty  eight  rods  and  ye  lines  run 
thirty  five  rods  east  and  west."  The  following  mutilated  record 
is  found  in  the  Dover  Town-book:  "  Laid  out  unto  Philip  Chesley 
Jr.  .  .  .at  the  head  of  his  fathers  land  upon 
joins  unto  Walt  Jaxons  land  ...  in  breadth  ye  line  runs 
east  and  .  .  .  laid  out  and  bounded  by  us  this 
All  of  which  goes  to  show  that  Philip  Chesley  had  a  "neck  of 
land"  between  land  of  Stephen  Jones  and  land  of  Walter  Jack- 
son, reaching  down  to  Oyster  River.  Here  was  the  old  Chesley 
garrison  about  half  way  between  the  Dover  road  and  that  to 
Pascataqua  Bridge,  twenty  rods  west  from  the  Jones  division 
wall,  on  a  little  elevation  in  the  field  of  Mr.  Daniel  Chesley.  A 
door-stone  with  the  name  of  Alpheus  Chesley  upon  it  was  taken 
from  this  place.  The  old  Chesley  burial  place  is  north  of  this 
spot,  on  more  elevated  land  and  joining  to  the  westerly  side  of  a 
stonewall. 

Beard's  Creek  is  so  called  from  William  Beard,  who,  as  we 
have  seen,  sold  land  near  the  mouth  of  Oyster  River  to  Francis 
Matthews  in  1640.  His  garrison  house  was  east  of  the  creek  on 
the  road  to  Dover.  Here  he  was  killed  by  Indians  in  1675. 
He  sold  a  lot  to  three  Scotchmen,  which  is  thus  described  in  the 
town  records: 

Be  it  knowne  unto  all  men  By  thes  Presence  that  I  William  Beard  to  geather 
with  my  wife  Elizabeth  Beard  dwling  in  the  towne  of  Dover  in  the  County  of 
Norfolke  for  and  in  consideration  of  three  and  Twinty  pounds  starling  have 


66  HISTORY   OF    DURHAM 

(liven  granted  Barganed  and  Soold  A  Sertayne  Parsell  of  Upland  and 
Meadowe  lying  in  Oyster  Rever  in  the  presinkes  of  Dover  in  the  County  of 
Norfolkell  unto  Robert  Junkinge  Edward  narving  and  Henrey  Browne  to 
them  thear  heires  and  asines  Exequtores  and  Adminestratores  to  have  and 
to  hold  for  Ever.  The  land  y*  Bounded  by  Consent  of  Evrey  of  thes  parties  A 
Boveminshened  the  River  lyinge  on  the  won  end  of  it  about  Este  and  West 
the  won  sied  of  it  Bounded  by  Thomas  Johnsons  land  y*  lyinge  near  North 
Est  and  south  west  the  other  seid  of  it  is  Bounded  By  the  sayd  William  Beards 
land  and  the  aforesayd  Robert  Edward  and  henrey  to  have  free  Egres  and 
Regres  therrowe  my  land  toward  the  Common  Witnes  my  hand  and  Seall  the 
9th  12th  1657. 

the  marke  of  William  Beard. 
Sealled  and  Delivered  in  the  presence  of  Robert  Burnum,  the  marke  of 
John  Diuell,  Joseph  Smieth. 

This  lot  was  soon  in  the  possession  of  Walter  Jackson,  another 
Scotchman,  who  had  a  grant  of  twenty  acres,  in  1666,  "at  the 
head  of  his  one  [own]  lot  betwixt  the  Cow  path  and  the  swamp." 

Walter  Jackson  sold  land  to  Robert  Watson,  14  December 
1668,  and  after  Watson  was  killed  by  Indians  and  his  widow, 
Hannah,  had  married  John  Ambler  they  sold  this  land,  26  March 
1703,  to  Philip  Chesley.  It  measured  twenty-seven  and  a  half 
rods  on  Oyster  River  and  twenty-five  rods  on  the  other  end, 
which  bordered  on  "the  Cochecho  path,"  bounded  on  one  side 
by  Philip  Chesley  and  on  the  other  by  Walter  Jackson's  land. 

April  10  1675,  William  Beard  and  wife,  Elizabeth,  gave  to 
James  Huckins  "gratisly  and  freely"  a  tract  of  land  near  Beard's 
Creek,  adjoining  land  of  John  Woodman.  There  is  a  mutilated 
record  of  a  grant  to  James  Huckins,  without  date,  as  follows: 

James  Huckins  ten  acre  lott  ...  is  layd  out  and  bounded  as  fol- 
loweth  two  joining  to  y«  north  end  of  his  whom  lott  ye  south 

brook  which  runs  into  y«  freshet  att  ye  head  of  ye  creek  and  thence 
n  .  .  .  and  by  west  fifteen  rods  to  a  ash  tree  by  y  bridg  marked  with 
I.  H.  and  .  .  .  y*  tree  north  north  east  by  ye  high  way  y«  comes  from 
Thomas  Chesley  ...  it  come  to  y«  high  way  y*  goes  to  ye  head  of 
Thomas  Johnsons  Creek  .  .  .  eastern  corner  of  his  whom  lott  y« 
other  eight  acres  begins  att  a  tree  in  y«  angle  of  ye  high  way  and  runs  nor 
nor  east  forty  two  rods  by  ye  high  way  that  goes  to  Thomas  Chesleys  to  a 
tree  marked  with  I.  H.  and  from  y*  tree  it  runs  east  northeast  forty  rods  to 
a  tree  by  ye  brook  marked  with  I.  H.  it  runs  down  y«  brook  being  y«  east 
north  east  side  bound  till  it  come  to  y«  high  way  y«  goes  toward  y«  head  of 
Thomas  Johnsons  Creek. 

The  estate  of  William  Beard  was  divided  between  his  widow, 
Elizabeth  Beard,  and  Edward  Leathers,  whose  family  long  lived 
here.     Edward  Leathers  sold,  in  1697,  land  on  the  north  side  of 


HISTORY   OF   DURHAM  67 

Oyster  River  to  Joseph  Smith,  and  Smith  sold  the  same  to  Jona- 
than Chesley.  In  both  deeds  it  was  described  as  twenty-seven 
and  a  half  rods  on  the  river  and  two  hundred  rods  deep,  next 
northerly  of  Beard's  Creek,  extending  to  the  brook  on  which  was 
Huckins'  mill,  with  marsh  on  the  west  of  Jackson's  land.  Jona- 
than Chesley's  old  garrison  house  is  probably  the  one  now  stand- 
ing on  the  northerly  side  of  the  road  to  Madbury,  a  short  distance 
east  and  on  the  opposite  side  of  the  road  from  Dea.  W.  S. 
Meserve's  house.  The  date,  1716,  has  recently  been  found  on  one 
of  its  interior  timbers,  but  the  house  was  probably  built  before 
that  date.  The  garrison  of  his  brother,  Capt.  Samuel  Chesley, 
stood  three  or  four  rods  east  of  Dea.  Meserve's  house. 

The  following  may  be  of  interest,  copied  from  an  old  paper  in 
the  possession  of  S.  H.  Shackford,  Esq.,  of  Boston: 

Know  all  men  by  this  presence  that  I  Elizabeth  Beard  ot  Oystariver  in  y« 
towne  of  Dover  in  ye  County  of  Dover  &  Pouchmoth  doe  make  over  my  hole 
Estat  which  I  now  poses  in  Oyster  River  yl  is  to  say  my  housing  &  lands  two 
oxsen  too  cous  three  hefers  too  calves  too  mears  seven  sheep  six  swine  unto 
Robert  Burnum  of  oystar  River  in  ye  towne  of  Dover  in  y8  County  of  Dover  & 
Porchmoth  to  improve  or  let  out  with  my  Consent  for  my  uose  &  benefit  in 
wittness  whear  of  I  have  set  to  my  hand  &  Seale  in  y«  year  of  our  Lord:  1676 
&  on  y«  13th  day  of  ye  8:  month  Elizabeth  Beard 

Her  E  marke 

Sined  seld  &  Delivered 
in  y«  presenc  of  us  witness 

James  Huckine 

Edward  Lethers 

His  E  marke. 

Beard's  Creek  is  fed  by  a  brook  that  ran  through  James  Huck- 
ins' land  and  hence  is  called  Huckins'  Brook.  From  the  west 
it  is  fed  by  Stoney  Brook  (the  third  brook  of  that  name  that  we 
have  seen  in  our  rambles  about  old  Oyster  River),  and  between 
Stoney  Brook  and  Beard's,  or  Woodman's  Creek  lay  the  old 
estate  of  Capt.  John  Woodman,  who  bought  land  here  of  Ben- 
jamin Matthews  in  1663,  having  had  in  1660  a  grant  of  twenty 
acres,  "at  the  head  of  William  Beard's  creek."  Here  was  a  public 
landing  place,  and  south  of  it,  on  a  commanding  hill,  may  be  seen 
the  ruins  of  Woodman's  garrison  house. 

The  tract  of  land  lying  between  Beard's  Creek  and  Valentine 
Hill's  grant  of  five  hundred  acres  was  originally  owned  by  Wil- 
liam Hilton,  who  had  a  grant  here  of  eighty-eight  acres  from  the 
town  of  Dover  and  sold  it,  7  July  1641,  to  Francis  Matthews. 


68  HISTORY   OF    DURHAM 

The  widow  of  Francis  Matthews,  with  the  consent  of  her  son, 
Benjamin,  sold  it  to  Valentine  Hill,  who  conveyed  it  to  Patrick 
Jameson,  u  May  1659.  Jameson  conveyed  it  to  Thomas  Mig- 
hill,  29  July  1669,  who  with  wife,  Bethula,  sold  it  to  John  Web- 
ster of  Newbury,  Mass.,  29  December  1670.  John  Webster  and 
wife,  Anne,  conveyed  it  to  George  Chesley,  16  October  1699. 
At  the  request  of  his  widow,  Deliverance  Chesley,  and  of  James 
Davis  the  land  was  rebounded,  21  May  171 1 ,  eighty-eight  acres 
on  the  north  side  of  Oyster  River,  according  to  deed  from  William 
Hilton  to  Francis  Matthews: 

Beginning  at  a  point  of  land  at  the  Creeks  mouth  next  belo  the  falls  on  the 
north  side  of  Oyster  River  Running  northward  towards  Jonathan  Woodmans 
and  from  the  aforesd  Poynt  on  the  west  side  of  the  sd  Creeks  mouth  it  Runes 
near  west  and  be  south  by  the  River  seventy  two  Rods  to  a  fence  now  standing 
between  Land  now  in  the  possession  of  deliverance  Chesle  and  an  orchard  in 
the  Possession  of  bartholomew  Stephenson  from  thence  it  Runs  nor  west  2' 
westerle  six  Rods  and  from  that  extent  it  Runes  west  and  be  south  Twenty 
nine  Rods  to  the  top  of  the  hill  on  the  south  side  of  bartholomew  stephensons 
house  from  thence  Leaving  the  sd  stephensons  house  on  the  north  side  and 
the  Landing  Place  and  highway  at  the  falls  with  the  land  joining  to  the  saw 
mill  on  the  south  side  of  this  line  and  from  that  Extent  it  Runs  west  and  be 
south  4'westerle  sixty  one  Rods  to  a  stake  set  in  the  ground  and  from  that 
Extent  it  Runes  nor  nor  west  ninety  six  Rods  to  a  stump  markt  W  H  and  from 
that  stump  East  and  be  north  to  stonie  brook  on  the  south  side  of  Jonathan 
Woodmans  orchard  and  so  downe  the  affore  mentioned  Creek  and  from  thence 
the  sd  creek  bounds  this  Land  on  the  East  till  it  comes  to  the  Poynt  where  we 
begun. 

Mention  is  made  above  of  the  fact  that  Bartholomew  Stephen- 
son lived  near  the  landing  at  the  falls.  He  seems  to  have  settled 
here  by  right  of  squatter  sovereignty,  and  in  17 10  Nathaniel 
Hill  claimed  the  land  that  Stephenson  was  living  on.  The  case 
in  court  brought  out  several  depositions  that  are  worth  more  to 
the  historian  than  the  land.  Peter  Coffin,  aged  about  79,  tes- 
tified that  Valentine  Hill  lived  on  the  north  side  of  Oyster  River 
near  the  Mill  and  employed  a  great  many  men  on  his  500  acres 
and  that  Coffin  himself  was  one  of  the  employees  and  afterward 
was  agent  of  Hill's  estate. 

William  Leathers  of  full  age  testified,  19  October  1710,  that 
Bartholomew  Stevenson  built  a  house  upon  "ye  upland  23  years 
ago,  on  land  now  in  controversy  between  Nathaniel  Hill  and  sd 
Stevenson,  and  was  never  interrupted  in  sd  time." 


HISTORY   OF    DURHAM  69 

The  Deposition  of  Joseph  Meader  sen1  &  Stephen  Jones  both  of  full  age 
Testifieth  &  saith  that  Capt  Nath"  Hill  built  a  house  &  erected  Fences  upon 
a  Tract  of  Land  att  ye  head  of  Oysterriver  the  salt  River  on  the  north  side  of 
y«  River  &  lived  there  Peacably  without  any  molestation  by  any  Persons  for 
twenty  eight  years  ago  or  thereabouts  &  when  Oysterriver  was  Part  of  it  cut 
of  by  the  enemy  John  Dean  was  killed  by  ye  enemy  who  lived  in  said  Hills 
house  &  ye  sd  House  was  Burned  by  ye  enemy  which  land  sd  Hill  sueth  Barthol- 
omew Stevenson  for  &  now  is  in  controversy  and  further  saith  not.  [See  Court 
Files  at  Concord,  N.H.     No.  15657.] 

February  23,  1709/10: 

The  Deposition  of  Capt.  Benjamin  Matthews  of  Dover,  aged  80  years  or 
thear  about,  that  sixty  years  ago  or  thear  about  my  mother  asked  my  consent 
to  sell  Valentine  Hill  that  tract  of  land  my  father  purchased  of  Mr.  William 
Hilton  as  appears  by  a  dede  of  sale  under  his  hand  and  my  mother  told  me  that 
she  sold  that  land  to  the  said  Hill  by  my  consent  and  by  surety  of  that  sale 
the  sayd  Hill  built  upon  that  land  for  sixty  years  ago  or  theare  about  and  the 
said  Hill  lived  and  died  in  peacebell  possession  of  that  land  without  any  moles- 
tation by  any  persons  to  the  best  of  my  knowledge,  which  land  lieth  at  the 
hed  of  Oyster  river  the  sallt  river  on  the  north  side  of  that  river  joining  to  the 
saw  mill  that  was  bought  by  Capt.  Woodman  and  Ste.  Jones  and  Nathaniel 
Hill  and  furder  saith  by  information  Bartholomy  Stevenson  hasbewelt  upone 
and  improved  part  of  the  same  land  and  furder  saith  that  he  never  heard  that 
the  sayd  Hill  was  molestet  in  his  possession  of  the  fresh  meddowe  att  Whelrits 
pond  and  thear  about  by  person  or  persons.     [Court  Files  No.   17101.] 

February  13,  1709/10: 

The  testimonie  of  John  Medder  sen--  of  Dover  beeing  eighty  years  of  agge 
testifieth  and  saith  that  the  five  hundred  ackers  of  Land  granted  to  Mr  Valen- 
tine Hill  by  the  town  of  Dover  at  the  head  of  Oyster  river  adjacent  to  his 
sawmill  the  North  Line  of  y*  land  running  near  aboutt  the  foott  path  going 
from  the  falls  to  Stoney  Brook  near  Capt.  Woodmans  orchard  soe  running 
up  the  hill  northerly  between  Capt.  Woodmans  house  and  A  Littell  barn  west- 
erly of  the  house,  I  being  lately  upon  the  Spote  and  acquainted  to  the  above 
premises,  aboutte  sixty  foure  years,  and  further  saith  the  westerly  bounds  of 
that  land  Mr  Valentine  Hill  sold  to  Patrick  Jemison  begins  at  the  salt  river 
between  a  fence  and  a  Littell  Hill  wher  plume  trees  grow  and  soe  running  upon 
a  straight  Line  to  Stony  Brook  to  an  elm  standing  near  Capt.  Woodman  De- 
ces<i  orchard  And  the  land  wich  Mr  Valentine  Hill  sold  to  Patrick  Jemison  is 
noe  part  of  that  land  wich  Capt.  Nath'i  Hill  and  Bartholmew  Stevenson  is  now 
in  controversy  with  And  I  asked  Mr  Valentine  Hill  why  hee  would  sell  that 
land  to  Patrick  Jemison,  Hee  answered  mee  because  hee  was  A  usefull  man  to 
mee  aboutte  my  mills  hee  was  my  Serv"  and  I  would  have  him  settled  by  mee 
and  further  saith  not.     [Court  Files,  No.  17101.] 

It  appears  from  the  above  that  Valentine  Hill  built  a  house  on 
the  north  side  of  the  river  and  lived  in  it,  that  his  son,  Nathaniel 
Hill,  built  another  house  about  the  year  1682,  that  John  Dean 


70 


HISTORY    OF    DURHAM 


was  living  in  said  house  in  1694,  when  Dean  was  killed  and  the 
house  was  burned.  Nathaniel  Hill  probably  was  then  living  in 
the  house  his  father  built,  and  tradition  says  that  the_house 
built  by  Valentine  Hill  forms  a  part  of  the  Ffrost  house  on  the 
hill.  This,  then,  must  be  the  oldest  house  in  Durham,  and  it  is 
doubtful  whether  there  is  another  so  old  within  the  limits  of 
ancient  Dover.  This  house  must  have  been  a  garrison  capable 
of  resisting  the  Indian  attack  of  1694. 

As  a  result  of  the  aforementioned  suit  possession  was  deliv- 
ered,  15  March   1710,  to  Nathaniel  Hill  of  "six  acres  of  land 


^■^  Tt^frMh.  — 

V' 

*-yf                                                                                                        ^^B 

Head  of  Tide  Water,  Oyster  River 


bounded  easterly  with  land  now  in  the  occupation  of  the  widdow 
Chesly,  on  the  southerly  and  westerly  side  with  the  publick  high 
way  and  a  lane  northerly." 

It  appears  as  though  Bartholomew  Stevenson  lived  on  the  hill, 
within  the  limits  of  the  town  landing  as  afterward  laid  out,  about 
where  now  stands  an  old  white  house,  that  a  century  ago  was  occu- 
pied by  Widow  Elizabeth  Dutch.  The  house  in  which  John  Dean 
lived  and  which  was  burned  in  1694  may  have  been  under  the 
hill,  where  an  old  cellar  is  even  now  plainly  visible. 

The  bounds  of  the  Landing  Place  as  laid  out  by  John  Tuttle, 
Jeremiah  Burnham,  Tristram  Heard  and  James  Davis,  in  1703, 
further  describe  this  region: 


HISTORY   OF    DURHAM  7 1 

Beginning  att  high  water  mark  by  George  Chesley  his  fence,  so  from  high 
water  mark  by  y6  fence  eight  rods  northwesterly  or  as  the  said  fence  now  layes, 
which  isnear  thereabouts,  from  thence  west  and  be  south  twenty  nine  Rods  to 
the  Top  of  the  hill  by  Bartholomew  Stephenson  his  house,  from  thence  nor  nor 
west  to  a  pitch  pine  markt  H  standing  on  y<=  east  side  of  y°  mast  path  which 
leads  from  Oyster  River  falls,  from  thence  west  to  the  fence  on  the  west  side 
of  the  aforesaid  path,  then  southward  as  y«  sd  fence  now  goes  tell  it  comes  to 
the  fresh  River  above  the  sawmill,  all  which  Land  thus  Laid  out  to  Lay  open  for 
a  Public  Landing  Place. 

Thus  we  come  to  the  large  estate  of  Valentine  Hill.  On  the 
29th  of  the  9th  month,  1649,  there  was  granted  to  Valentine  Hill 
and  Thomas  Beard  "the  fall  of  Oyster  River,"  "for  the  Erickting 
and  setting  up  of  a  sawe  mill,"  with  accommodations  of  timber 
for  the  mill.  The  annual  rent  for  the  same  was  ten  pounds,  to 
be  paid  to  the  town,  beginning  the  following  September  or  earlier 
if  the  mill  began  to  run  before  that  time.  A  little  later  Thomas 
Kemble  owned  a  large  share  in  this  mill.  On  the  14th  of  the  5th 
month,  1 65 1,  the  town  granted  to  Valentine  Hill  five  hundred 
acres  for  a  farm,  "adjacent  to  his  mills  at  Oyster  River,  provided 
it  doth  not  annoy  the  inhabitants,  and  laid  out  and  bounded  in 
ye  year  1660,  ye  3rd  day  of  ye  nth  mo.  bounded  upon  a  N  and  S 
line  from  Oyster  River  200  rods,  and  from  that  bound  N  W  half 
a  point  westerly  320  rods  and  from  >rt  to  Oyster  River  upon  a 
S.  W  and  by  S  line  210  rods  to  ye  River  and  ye  River  is  ye  bounds." 

This  tract  embraced  the  greater  part  of  the  site  of  the  present 
village  of  Durham  and  was  long  in  possession  of  the  heirs  of  Valen- 
tine Hill.  In  the  mill  he  employed  his  "seven  Scots"  and  had  a 
grant  of  four  acres  for  their  use,  as  has  been  before  said.  Though 
he  had  a  house  near  the  mill,  and  probably  it  was  a  part  of  the 
present  Ffrost  house, — yet  in  1660  "the  house  of  Mr.  Valentine 
Hill,  which  is  his  now  dwelling  house  at  Rockey  Point,"  is  men- 
tioned in  fixing  the  division  line  of  Oyster  River  parish.  This 
was  probably  near  the  mouth  of  the  river,  on  the  north  side,  since 
we  have  already  seen  that  Hill  owned  a  large  tract  of  land  there 
at  this  time.  He  also  had  a  grant  of  the  mill  privileges  at  Lam- 
prey River,  in  1652,  with  accommodations  of  timber  on  land  a 
mile  wide  on  both  sides  of  the  river,  for  which  he  was  to  pay  the 
town  twenty  pounds  annually. 

John  Thompson,  who  married  Sarah,  daughter  of  Capt.  John 
Woodman,  about  1679,  lived  not  far  from  his  father-in-law.  He 
had  a  grant  of  land,  2  April  1694,  on  the  north  side  of  Mast  Road 


72 


HISTORY   OF    DURHAM 


in  Follett's  swamp.  The  first  Thompson  house  was  on  the  present 
farm  of  Lucien  Thompson,  and  the  road  leading  thereto  from 
the  Mast  Road  was  just  west  of  the  new  Boston  and  Maine 
Railroad  station.  His  land  extended  to  the  King's  highway 
leading  from  Oyster  River  to  Dover  through  what  is  locally 
known  as  Bagdad.  This  was  a  strip  directly  north  of  the  Kin- 
caid  and  Hill  lands.  Here  John  Thompson,  senior,  and  succeed- 
ing generations  were  buried.  He  had  a  grant  of  two  acres  against 
Woodman's  land  in  1702  and  an  additional  grant  of  land  adjoining 
in  1720.     Another  grant  was  made  to  him  in  1733.     Successive 


Upper  End  of  College  Reservoir,  in  "Follets  Marsh" 


generations  had  extensive  grants  and  made  purchases  of  a  con- 
siderable part  of  the  Woodman  farm.  Robert  Thompson  built 
his  house  on  the  corner  of  Thompson  land  nearest  to  the  Wood- 
man garrison  for  protection. 

W7est  of  the  Thompson  land,  in  Follett's  swamp,  was  land 
granted  to  Eli  Demeritt,  30  May  1699,  in  exchange  for  land 
which  had  been  granted  to  him  near  John  Derry,  n  April  1694. 
This  grant  was  laid  out,  31  May  1699,  "in  follets  swamp  and  is 
bounded  by  four  rods  of  Land  Left  for  a  path  for  cattle  into  the 


HISTORY   OF   DURHAM  73 

woods  and  Jonathan  Woodmans  Land  Lying  on  the  north  side 
of  it  the  first  bounds  being  four  rods  south  from  a  marked  Hem- 
lock tree  and  runs  south  west  and  by  south  forty  rods  to  A  Bass 
tree  marked  and  from  thence  norwest  or  there  about  eight  score 
rods  to  A  marked  Hemlock  tree  marked  E  J  and  from  thence  it 
runs  east  and  be  north  forty  rods  to  A  Hemlock  tree  marked 
E  J  and  from  thence  where  it  began."  Signed  by  John  Wood- 
man, Jeremiah  Burnum  and  John  Smith,  Lott  Laiers. 

The  above  grant  is  now  a  part  of  the  three  hundred  acre  farm 
owned  by  Albert  DeMeritt.  The  farm  of  Capt.  George  P. 
Demeritt  adjoining  has  also  been  in  the  family  many  genera- 
tions, perhaps  back  to  the  first  settler,  Eli  Demeritt. 

The  location  of  other  settlers  will  best  be  told  in  the  chapter  on 
roads. 


EXILES   FROM   SCOTLAND 

The  fact  is  well  known  that  Oliver  Cromwell  took  ten  thou- 
sand prisoners  at  the  battle  of  Dunbar,  3  September  1650,  and 
as  many  more  at  the  battle  of  Worcester,  just  one  year  later. 
Those  taken  at  Dunbar  were  marched  down  to  Durham  and 
Newcastle  by  way  of  Berwick  and  entrusted  to  the  care  of  Sir 
Arthur  Heselrig.  Many  perished  on  this  march,  and  some  were 
shot  because  they  could  not  or  would  not  march.  They  had 
little  to  eat  for  eight  days.  Disease  swept  off  1,500  in  the  course 
of  a  few  weeks.  One  hundred  and  fifty  were  sent  over  to  Bos- 
ton, Mass.,  in  the  ship  Unity,  and  since  a  score  or  so  of  them 
settled  at  what  is  now  South  Berwick,  Me.,  that  place  was  first 
called  the  Parish  of  Unity.  Many  more  of  these  Scotch  prison- 
ers were  sent  to  Virginia,  and  more  still  were  sent  to  West  India 
islands. 

The  prisoners  taken  at  Worcester  were  marched  up  to  London 
and  there  confined  for  a  few  months  in  the  artillery  grounds  at 
Tuthill  Fields,  perhaps  half  a  mile  west  of  Westminster  Palace. 
Here  they  were  allowed  for  daily  rations  a  pound  of  bread  and 
half  a  pound  of  cheese.  Shelter  seems  to  have  been  provided 
for  the  sick  only.  Two  hundred  and  seventy-two  of  these  pris- 
oners were  sent  to  Boston  in  the  ship  called  the  John  and  Sara 
and  were  consigned  to  Thomas  Kemble,  a  merchant  of  Charles- 
town,  Mass. 

This  Thomas  Kemble  was  part  owner  with  Valentine  Hill  in 
the  mills  at  Durham  Falls  and  Lamprey  River.  He  also  owned 
lands  in  Maine  and  did  an  extensive  business  in  lumber.  He 
saw  that  the  young  Scotch  prisoners  would  be  useful  men  in  saw- 
mills and  so  he  disposed  of  many  of  them  in  this  way.  Richard 
Leader  had  charge  of  some  Scotchmen  at  the  Lynn  Iron  Works 
and  later,  in  1 652,  took  some  of  them  with  him  to  work  in  the 
mills  at  South  Berwick,  then  called  Great  Works. 

All  the  Scotchmen  brought  in  the  two  ships  above  mentioned 
were  sold  to  planters  and  others  who  needed  workmen  through- 
out New  England.  The  usual  price  paid  was  twenty  pounds 
per  man,  and  after  working  from  five  to  eight  years,  nominally 
to  pay  their  passage  money,  and  to  learn  some  trade  as  appren- 

75 


76  HISTORY    OF    DURHAM 

tices,  they  were  given  their  liberty.  Many  of  them  received 
grants  of  land  in  the  towns  where  they  had  worked. 

The  records  of  Dover,  under  date  of  5  October  1652,  have  the 
following:  "Given  &  granted  unto  Mr.  Valentine  Hill,  his  heires 
Executors  administrators  or  assigns  foure  acres  of  land  adjoining 
to  Goodman  Hudsons  Lott  for  his  Scots."  Later,  about  1663, 
we  find  another  record  as  follows,  "Layd  out  and  Bounded  to 
henrey  Brown  and  James  Ore  fower  ackers  which  were  given  and 
granted  unto  Mr.  Valentine  Hills  seven  Scotes  in  the  yeir  1652. 
Said  land  lyeth  on  the  northern  side  of  the  land  that  was  granted 
to  Hudson  and  now  in  the  hands  of  Edward  Patterson."  It  bor- 
dered on  the  "freshet,"  that  is,  the  mill-pond  above  the  dam  at 
Durham  Falls,  and  was  on  the  south  side  of  the  river,  and  on 
the  Newmarket  road.  It  is  probable  that  they  worked  by  shifts 
in  the  mills,  having  three  days  in  the  week  to  work  in  their  gar- 
dens. They  were  not  allowed  to  marry  till  they  got  their  liberty. 
Some  of  them  never  married.  Some  married  daughters  of  their 
employers.  Some  married  Irish  maids  who  had  been  kidnaped 
and  brought  over  as  house  servants  and  to  swell  the  population 
of  the  colonies. 

A  study  of  these  Scotchmen  clears  up  a  lot  of  mystery  here- 
tofore connected  with  certain  names  that  appear  in  early  tax- 
lists  of  Dover  and  in  court  records.     Let  us  see  who  they  were. 

Nyven  Agnew,  called  also  Nivin  Agneau,  is  called  "  Nivin  the 
Scot"  in  the  Dover  tax-list  of  1659,  shortly  after  he  got  his  free- 
dom. He  administered  the  estate  of  James  Barry,  another 
Scotchman  of  South  Berwick,  Me.,  about  1676,  and  lived  on  the 
land  that  Kittery  had  granted  to  Barry.  Agnew's  will,  16  Sep- 
tember 1687,  mentions  debts  due  to  him  from  James  Barry,  his 
predecessor.  He  divides  his  property  between  Peter  Grant  and 
John  Taylor,  two  other  Scotchmen.  In  the  inventory  of  his 
estate  is  this  item,  "To  a  sword  that  Peter  Grant  did  say  he 
would  give  ten  shillings  for."     Neither  Barry  nor  Agnew  married. 

John  Barber  was  taxed  in  Dover  in  1659  and  was  received  as 
an  inhabitant  of  Exeter  in  1678.  He  had  wife,  "Sisly,"  and  a 
seat  was  assigned  to  him  in  the  church  at  Amesbury,  Mass.,  in 
1667.  He  had  at  least  two  sons,  John  and  Robert.  John  Bar- 
ber, Jr.,  married  Anne,  daughter  of  Robert  Smart  and  lived  on 
Hilton's  Mill  Grant  in  1696.  He  had  a  grant  of  fifty  acres  in 
1725.     His  wife,  Anne,  made  a  deposition,  23  June  1759,  aged 


HISTORY    OF   DURHAM  77 

83.  They  had  sons,  Joseph  who  was  a  soldier  at  Crown  Point 
in  1756,  and  John,  who  was  living  in  1768.  Perhaps  this  was 
the  John  Barber  who  married  Jane  Davis  in  Durham,  19  January 
1736/7. 

Robert  Barber,  son  of  John,  senior,  was  born  in  Amesbury, 
Mass.,  4  March  1669/70.  He  had  a  grant  of  fifty  acres  in  Exe- 
ter in  1698  and  was  killed  by  Indians  1  July  1706.  He  had  chil- 
dren, Abigail,  Mary,  Daniel  and  Robert. 

Henry  Brown  and  James  Orr,  Oar,  or  Ore,  lived  together  all 
their  lives,  unmarried.  They  were  admitted  as  inhabitants  at 
Oyster  River,  10  November  1658,  and  were  taxed  in  1659.  They 
and  Edward  Errin  bought  in  1662  "a  farm  at  Bradboate  Har- 
bour in  Pischataq  River  at  the  Wadeing  place,  with  50  acres  of 
upland."  This  was  near  the  line  between  Kittery  and  York, 
called  long  afterward  "Scotchman's  Neck."  In  1686  Brown  and 
Orr  brought  suit  against  John  Bray  for  carrying  away  their  grass 
at  Brave  Boat  Harbor.  June  3,  1675,  "  Henry  Brown  and  James 
Oare,  Scotchmen  &  now  residents  in  the  township  of  Wells", 
bought  200  acres  of  Henry  Sayward,  at "  Mowsome."  In  1662 
Brown  and  Ore  had  a  grant  of  eight  score  acres  near  "  Moharmits 
marsh."  October  9,  1669,  James  Ore  of  Saco  Falls  belonging  to 
Winter  Harbor,  for  himself  and  Henry  Brown,  sold  to  James 
Smith  of  Oyster  River,  tailor,  land  granted  to  them  by  Dover,  a 
"mile  and  a  halfe  or  there  abouts"  from  Oyster  River,  on  the 
south  side  of  said  river,  eight  acres.  Brown  and  Orr  lived  many 
years  in  Wells,  Me.,  and  ran  a  sawmill,  having  learned  the  trade 
of  Valentine  Hill.  They  associated  with  them  one  Robert  Stew- 
art, another  Scotchman,  and  left  all  their  property  to  him. 

Thomas  Canyda  has  been  already  mentioned  as  killed  by  the 
falling  of  a  tree  upon  him  near  the  house  of  Thomas  Humphreys, 
in  1660. 

John  Curmuckhell  came  in  the  John  and  Sara  from  the  battle- 
field of  Worcester.  John  Cernicle,  called  also  Carnicle,  was 
taxed  at  Oyster  River  in  1657.  John  Chirmihill  bought  land  of 
John  Pearce  of  York,  26  December  1660,  and  married  Pearce's 
daughter,  Ann.  He  had  a  grant  of  upland  at  York  Bridge  in 
1671.  Ann,  wife  of  John  Cyrmihill,  was  presented  at  court,  6 
July  1675,  "  for  not  frequenting  the  publique  worship  of  God  on 
the  Lord's  days."  He  died  soon  after  this,  and  his  widow  mar- 
ried Micum  Mclntvre  of  York. 


78  HISTORY    OF    DURHAM 

"  Davey  Daniel "  is  suspected  of  being  a  Scot.  He  is  first  men- 
tioned in  the  settlement  of  a  Scotchman's  estate.  It  is  known 
that  James  Daniels  was  one  of  the  thirty-five  Scots  employed  at 
the  Lynn  Iron  Works  in  1653.  He  is  also  called  Danielson  and 
his  son  founded  the  town  of  Danielson,  Conn.  The  Daniels 
family  of  Durham  was  first  called  Daniel.  The  name  originally 
might  have  been  McDaniel.  The  Mc  was  dropped,  as  in  many 
other  names,  when  the  Scotchmen  came  to  New  England.  Later 
its  equivalent  was  added  to  the  name,  making  Danielson,  or 
shortened  to  Daniels.     See  Daniel  family  in  Genealogical  Notes. 

Patrick  Denmark  was  taxed  in  Dover  in  1662.  He  had  wife, 
Hannah,  and  children  found  in  records  of  Dover,  viz.,  Patrick 
born  8  April  1664  and  James  born  13  March  1665.  He  is  once 
called  Patrick  Denmor.  He  removed  to  Saco,  Me.,  soon  after 
1665,  where  children  are  recorded.  In  1685  he  petitioned  for  a 
grant  of  100  acres  in  Saco,  "having  now  a  great  Charge  of  Chil- 
dren."   His  son,  James,  married  Elizabeth  Littlefield  of  Wells. 

Thomas  Doughty  was  received  as  an  inhabitant  of  Dover  in 
1658.  He  was  born  in  1630,  as  a  deposition  shows.  In  this 
deposition  he  delares  that  he  worked  for  Valentine  Hill  and  cut 
a  road  for  Hill  to  his  meadow  at  Wheelwright's  Pond,  where  said 
Hill  built  a  house  and  kept  cattle.  Hill  paid  Doughty  ten  pounds 
for  cutting  the  road.  Doughty  removed  to  Great  Works,  South 
Berwick,  and  managed  the  sawmill  there  a  short  time.  He  mar- 
ried, 24  June  1669,  Elizabeth  Bulie  of  Saco.  The  Indians  drove 
him  from  Wells  to  Salem,  Mass.,  where  he  died  about  the  year 
1705.  He  left  children,  viz.,  James  who  married,  10  April  1707, 
Mary  Robinson  in  Hampton,  N.  H.,  and  settled  in  Cape  Eliza- 
beth, Me.;  Joseph  of  Salem;  Elizabeth  who  married  Thomas 
Thomes  and  went  to  Falmouth,  Me.;  Benjamin;  Margaret, 
who  married  Samuel  Wilson  of  Maiden,  Mass.;  Abigail  who 
married  in  Lynn,  Mass.,  28  October  1717,  Robert  Edmonds; 
and  Patience  who  married  Benjamin  Follett  of  Salem,  Mass. 
The  descendants  of  Thomas  Doughty  are  many  in  Maine  and 
Massachusetts. 

Edward  Erwin  was  received  as  an  inhabitant  of  Dover  in  1658. 
He  was  taxed  as  Edward  Arrin  in  1659.  He  with  Henry  Brown 
and  James  Oar  bought  land  in  Kittery  in  1662.  "Edward  Irwin 
and  Company"  were  taxed  in  Dover  in  1662.  Edward  Eurin 
died  in  Exeter,  9  November  1667.     He  is  called  Duren  and  Dow- 


HISTORY   OF   DURHAM  79 

reing  in  the  administration  of  his  estate.  James  Kidd  and  George 
Veasey  were  administrators,  and  John  Roy,  a  Scotchman  of 
Charlestown,  seems  to  have  been  his  heir.  I  think  he  was  the 
Edward  Dulen,  so  erroneously  reported  in  the  passenger  list  of 
the  John  and  Sara,  and  that  he  was  captured  at  the  battle  of 
Worcester,  3  September  165 1. 

William  Furbish  was  taxed  in  Dover  in  1659  as  William  Fer- 
bush.  The  statement  that  he  was  taxed  in  Dover  in  1648,  made 
in  Old  Kittery  and  Her  Families,  is  an  error,  the  result  of  the 
misreading  of  the  name  William  Furber.  William  Furbish  was 
in  Scotland  probably  William  ffarrabas,  and  a  family  of  the  same 
surname  in  Massachusetts  is  now  called  Forbes,  once  pronounced 
in  two  syllables.  William  Furbish  owned  land  in  Kittery,  now 
Eliot,  before  1664,  and  had  a  grant  from  the  town  in  1668.  He 
died  in  1701,  having  had  seven  children.  He  was  punished  in 
1681  for  calling  His  Majesty's  authorities  "  Divills  and  hell 
bound,"  thus  showing  his  lasting  antipathy  to  the  rule  of  Eng- 
lishmen. The  fight  at  Dunbar  was  not  yet  ended  in  his  breast. 
His  descendants  are  very  numerous.  See  Old  Kittery  and  Her 
Families,  pp.  121,  437. 

William  Gowen,  alias  Smith,  was  taxed  as  William  Smith  at 
Oyster  River  in  1659.  William  Smith,  alias  Gowin,  was  fined 
"for  fighting  and  bloodshed  on  ye  Lords  day  after  ye  afternoone 
meeting,"  30  June  1668.  He  was  on  a  coroner's  jury  at  Oyster 
River  in  1660.  The  Scotch  word  gowen  means  a  smith,  hence 
the  change  of  his  name.  "  Elexander  Gowing,"  perhaps  the 
same  man,  was  taxed  at  Oyster  River  in  1661.  William  Gowen, 
or  Smith,  was  a  carpenter.  He  first  appears  in  Kittery,  now 
Eliot,  in  1666.  There  he  married,  14  May  1667,  Elizabeth,  sister 
of  Major  Charles  Frost,  and  had  a  grant  of  a  house  lot  in  1670. 
He  died  2  April  1686,  leaving  eight  children.  See  Old  Kittery 
and  Her  Families,  p.  468. 

Pejer  Grant  was  taxed  at  Oyster  River  in  1659.  He  had  pre- 
viously been  employed  in  the  Lynn  Iron  Works.  He  bought 
land  at  what  is  now  South  Berwick,  21  October  1659.  A  deposi- 
tion, made  13  September  1701,  calls  him  "upwards  of  70  years 
old."  He  married,  about  1664,  Joan,  widow  of  James  Grant  of 
York,  though  court  records  show  that  both  of  them  had  wives  in 
Scotland,  to  whom  they  could  not  return.  Peter  Grant  left  eight 
children  and  his  descendants  are  numerous.     See  Old  Kittery 


80  HISTORY   OF    DURHAM 

and  Her  Families,  p.  472.  He  was  a  member  of  the  Scotch 
Charitable  Society  in  Boston  in  1657. 

John  Hudson  came  in  the  John  and  Sara.  He  is  mentioned  at 
Oyster  River,  5  October  1652.  He  settled  at  Bloody  Point,  New- 
ington.  There  were  granted  to  John  Hudson,  19  March  1693/4, 
ten  acres  joining  to  land  he  bought  of  William  Furber.  He  mar- 
ried, 25  July  1689,  Mary  Beard.  This  was  probably  a  second 
marriage.  He  died  about  1717,  leaving  most  of  his  property  to 
his  grandson,  Hudson  Peavey. 

Walter  Jackson  came  in  the  John  and  Sara  and  was  received 
as  an  habitant  at  Oyster  River  in  1658.  He  had  wife,  Jane,  in 
1663,  and,  Ann,  in  1667.     For  family  see  Genealogical  Notes. 

James  Jackson  also  came  in  the  John  and  Sara.  He  was  taxed 
at  Oyster  River  in  1663.  June  27,  1661,  James  Jackson  was 
freed  from  training  "by  reason  he  hath  lost  one  of  his  fingers." 
Did  he  lose  it  at  the  battle  of  Worcester  or  in  Valentine  Hill's 
sawmill?  He  married  a  daughter  of  John  Smith  of  Cape  Nedick, 
York,  where  he  had  a  grant  of  twenty-eight  acres  in  1667,  next 
to  land  of  his  father-in-law.  He  was  probably  killed  by  Indians, 
with  his  wife  and  two  children,  in  1675.  He  left  a  daughter, 
Elizabeth,  who  in  1685  acquits  her  uncle,  John  Smith,  Jr.,  of 
York,  from  any  incumbrance,  dues  or  demands  concerning  her 
father's  estate  or  concerning  herself.     See'York  Deeds,  VII,  262. 

Patrick  Jameson  came  in  the  John  and  Sara.  He  seems  to 
have  been  the  one  who  is  called  "  Patrick  the  Scott "  in  the  Dover 
tax-list  of  1657.  Valentine  Hill  sold  to  "  Patrick  Gimison  of  the 
same  town,"  1 1  May  1659,  land  on  the  north  side  of  Oyster  River, 
that  later  was  the  estate  of  George  and  Deliverance  Chesley. 
The  village  school  house  is  on  this  lot.  Hill  declared  that  Jame- 
son had  been  a  servant  of  his  and  was  useful  in  his  mills  and, 
therefore,  he  sold  the  land  to  Jameson.  In  1664  Patrick  Jame- 
son was  chosen  with  Philip  Chesley  to  lay  out  a  road  from  Oyster 
River  to  Cochecho.  Patrick  Jennison,  his  mark,  probably  the 
same  man,  witnessed  a  deed  at  Kennebunk,  in  1674.  He  was 
accused  of  crime  at  Oyster  River,  in  1669,  and  ordered  to  be 
sent  to  Boston  for  further  trial,  but  the  case  seems  not  to  have 
been  pushed.  In  1677  the  administration  of  the  estate  of  Pat- 
rick Gynnison,  deceased,  was  granted  to  Samuel  Austin  of  York, 
as  court  records  at  Alfred,  Me.,  say.  There  is  no  record  of  any 
family. 


HISTORY   OF   DURHAM  8 1 

Robert  Junkins  was  taxed  at  Oyster  River  in  1657,  and  as 
"  Robard  Junkes"  in  1663.  He  removed  to  York  before  1674 
and  took  the  oath  of  allegiance  there  22  March  1681.  He  had 
a  garrison  house  in  the  upper  part  of  York,  that  was  standing  in 
recent  years.  The  region  is  called  "Scotland"  unto  this  day. 
November  31,  17 15,  "Sarah  Junckins,  aged  seventy  years,  living 
at  her  father's  house  at  Cape  Nedick  on  the  north  east  side  of 
Cape  Nedick  river,  near  the  ferry  place,  testifieth  that  her  father 
John  Smith  senior  lived  there  48  years  agoe,  as  she  can  well  re- 
member, that  he  lived  near  where  Samuel  Webber  now  lives." 
This  was  found  among  the  Court  Files  at  Alfred,  Me.  His  wife, 
then,  was  Sarah,  daughter  of  John  Smith  of  York.  He  died 
about  1699,  leaving  widow,  Sarah,  and  three  sons,  Alexander, 
Daniel  and  Robert.  Alexander  married  Catherine,  daughter  of 
James  and  Margaret  (Warren)  Stacpole.  Daniel  married  Elea- 
nor, daughter  of  Deacon  Arthur  Came,  another  Scotchman,  as 
was  also  James  Warren,  father  of  Margaret.  The  Junkins  name 
still  exists  and  must  be  distinguished  from  the  surname  Jenkins 
of  Kittery  and  Durham. 

John  Kye,  Key,  Keiay,  or  Keays,  was  taxed  in  Dover  in  1657 
and  was  living  at  Salmon  Falls,  in  what  is  now  South  Berwick  in 
1667.  He  and  his  son  John  and  daughter  Abigail  were  captured 
by  Indians  and  carried  to  Canada  about  1689.  His  son,  James, 
was  then  killed.  The  name  of  his  first  wife  is  not  known.  He 
married  (2)  Sarah,  widow  of  Jonathan  Nason  and  daughter  of 
Reynold  Jenkins.  He  and  son,  John,  were  prisoners  at  Quebec 
in  1695.  Very  likely  this  was  the  John  Mackey,  who  came  in 
the  John  and  Sara.  The  name  might  be  pronounced  in  different 
dialects  like  Ke  and  Ki,  with  long  sound  of  the  vowel.  July  I, 
1703,  John  Key  senior,  aged  about  70  years,  deposed  that  James 
Barry,  Niven  Agnue  and  John  Taylor  owned  in  succession  a 
farm  in  upper  Kittery,  now  South  Berwick.  In  his  will,  1710/18, 
he  is  called  both  Key  and  Kye.  For  family  see  Old  Kittery  and 
Her  Families,  p.  568. 

James  Kidd  was  fined  and  taxed  in  Dover  in  1657.  He  had 
a  grant  of  100  acres,  near  the  great  pond,  in  1656,  laid  out  in 
1 7 14.  He  had  a  grant  of  four  acres  for  a  house  lot,  on  Back 
River,  next  to  Lieut.  Ralph  Hall,  1  February  1658.  He  removed 
to  Exeter  and  was  one  of  the  executors  of  the  estate  of  Edward 
Erring,  or  Erwin,  1673.     He  took  oath  of  fidelity,  30  November 

6 


82  HISTORY   OF   DURHAM 

1677.  In  1665  he  had  a  grant  of  twenty  acres  in  Exeter,  next  to 
Henry  Magoons,  another  Scotchman.  He  is  repeatedly  called 
James  Skid  in  Exeter  records  and  as  a  witness  to  one  of  the  York 
Deeds.  His  name  and  his  associations  with  Scotchmen  create 
the  impression  that  he  also  was  one  of  Cromwell's  Scots.  He- 
died  before  1712. 

Allexander  Mackdouel  or  McDaniel,  was  taxed  at  Oyster 
River  in  1661 ,  and  his  estate  was  taxed  in  1663.  He  was  drowned 
between  York  and  Dover,  16  January,  1663,  and  his  property 
was  awarded  to  a  kinsman,  John  Roy  of  Charlestown,  Mass. 
His  estate  was  appraised  by  John  Tod,  John  Alt,  Walter  Jackson 
and  Henry  Brown.  There  were  bills  from  Edward  During 
and  William  ffurbush.  The  debts  were  to  Walter  Jackson,  Philip 
Chesley,  Thomas  Dowty,  Patrick  Denmark,  and  David  Danniell. 
The  following  deposition  is  found  in  Boston  among  the  papers 
pertaining  to  the  settlement  of  his  estate:  "The  testimony  of 
phillip  Cheasly  aged  about  forty  six  years  saith  that  about  ten 
dais  before  Ellexander  magdunell  was  drowned  being  att  the  sd 
deponents  house  heard  the  sd  magdunell  say  that  if  he  died 
that  he  would  give  all  that  he  had  to  his  cosen  John  Roye  livinge 
att  Charlestown  and  further  saith  not."    Dated  2  February,  1663. 

Micum  Mclntire  appears  in  the  Dover  tax-list  of  1664  as  ''Mi- 
come  the  Scotchman."  Micum  appears  to  be  Highland  Scotch 
for  Malcolm.  I  think  that  he  worked  in  the  mills  at  Cochecho. 
He  had  a  grant  in  Kittery,  above  Salmon  Falls,  11  December, 
1662.  He  settled  in  the  upper  part  of  York,  or  Scotland  Parish, 
and  his  garrison  house  is  still  standing.  Micum  appears  in  the 
Dover  tax-list  of  1659.  He  was  twice  or  thrice  married  and  there 
are  a  host  of  descendants.  The  tradition  has  floated  down  that 
after  he  was  taken  prisoner  in  Scotland  he  was  drawn  up  in  line 
with  others,  that  every  tenth  man  might  be  shot.  He  saw  that 
death  was  coming  to  him,  broke  rank  and  ran  for  life.  A  mounted 
officer  pursued  and  wounded  him,  but  his  life  was  spared. 

James  Middleton  was  received  as  an  inhabitant  at  Oyster 
River  in  1658.  He  was  appointed  administrator  of  the  estate  of 
Mrs.  Ludeces  of  Dover  Neck  in  1664.  He  may  have  worked  in 
the  home  of  David  Ludecas  Edling,  as  he  is  called,  whose  widow, 
Elizabeth,  died  16  November  1663.  James  Middleton  was  con- 
victed, 3  June  1659,  of  frequenting  the  taverns  and  quarreling 
and  fighting.     He  was  fined  twenty  pounds,  and  Valentine  Hill 


HISTORY   OF   DURHAM  83 

was  surety  on  his  bond  for  good  behavior.  Philip  Chesley, 
Thomas  Footman  and  William  Smith  (Gowen)  were  convicted 
of  quarreling  with  James  Middleton  at  the  same  time  and  were 
fined.  Also  George  Vezie  was  convicted  of  being  more  than  half 
an  hour  in  the  tavern,  at  the  same  time,  and  was  fined  two  shil- 
lings. James  Middleton  was  east  of  the  Kennebec  in  1665,  and 
16  September  1676,  he,  being  then  a  resident  of  Great  Island 
in  Pascataqua  River,  sold  to  William  Gowine,  alias  Smith, 
all  right  to  lands  on  the  Kennebec,  especially  "at  Small  Point, 
which  I  lately  bought  of  Patricke  Denmarke."  See  York  Deeds, 
III,  67.  James  Middleton  of  Newichawanock,  laborer,  brought 
suit  for  debt  against  George  Jeffrey  of  Great  Island  in  1683. 

James  Morrey,  or  Murray,  was  received  as  an  inhabitant  in 
1658.  He  died  at  Oyster  River,  11  November  1659.  A  jury  of 
inquest,  impaneled  by  John  Bickford,  found  that  James  Morrey 
was  killed  by  the  limb  of  a  tree  falling  on  his  head.  Among  the 
jurors  were  William  Smith  (Gowen),  Niven  Agnew,  Jonas  Bines 
James  Bunker,  Thomas  Stevenson,  Matthew  Williams  and  oth- 
ers, all  of  Oyster  River.     See  Court  Files  at  Concord. 

Edward  Patterson  was  taxed  at  Oyster  River  in  1667/9.  He 
is  mentioned  in  1660  as  a  voter.  The  following  is  found  in  Dover 
Town  records:  "31:  10:  1660,  Granted  to  Edward  Patterson  a 
trackt  of  land  lying  between  his  land  and  the  Brooke  which  Run- 
neth out  of  the  long  marsh  on  the  est  side  of  the  highway  from 
Oyster  River  fall  to  lamperell  River  and  on  the  west  side  by  the 
South  branch  of  Oyster  River,  not  intrenching  on  anie  former 
grant,  always  provided  that  thear  be  a  Convenient  way  alowed 
to  the  Scochmen  to  thear  lott."  He  sold  this  lot  to  William  Rob- 
erts. Edward  Patterson  was  a  grand  juryman  in  1660.  There 
died  at  New  Haven,  Conn.,  31  October  1669,  Edward  Patterson, 
"one  of  the  south  end  men."  Had  he  wandered  so  far  to  join 
some  of  his  own  countrymen  there? 

William  Thompson  was  another  Scotchman,  without  doubt, 
as  were  George  Thompson  of  Reading  and  Alexander  Thompson 
of  Ipswich,  Mass.,  by  convincing  evidence.  For  his  family  see 
Genealogical  Notes. 

Later  Scotchmen  in  Durham  were  David  Kincaid,  probably 
from  Campsie,  in  the  parish  of  Stirling;  Eleazer  Wyer,  son  of 
Edward  Wyer,  tailor,  from  Scotland,  who  lived  in  Charlestown, 
Mass.     Eleazer  Wyer  married  Sarah,  widow  of  James  Nock  and 


84  HISTORY   OF   DURHAM 

daughter  of  Charles  Adams.  Another  son  of  a  Scotchman  was 
Dr.  Samuel  Merrow,  born  at  Reading,  Mass.,  9  October  1670, 
son  of  Henry  Merrow,  who  married  Jane  Wallis,  19  December 
1 66 1.  Dr.  Merrow  practiced  medicine  at  Durham  from  1720  to 
1733- 


DEPREDATIONS  BY  INDIANS 

The  story  of  the  Indian  wars  in  New  England  has  been  told  so 
many  times  and  embellished  by  fancy  so  plentifully  that  it  is 
very  difficult  to  add  thereto  statement  of  fact  or  pleasing  form. 
Yet  the  history  of  Durham  would  be  incomplete  without  the 
full  story,  and  so  effort  has  been  made  to  bring  together  the 
scattered  narrations  of  the  past. 

The  causes  of  the  wars  with  the  Indians  have  been  sought  in 
the  injustices  of  white  settlers,  overreachings  in  trade,  treachery 
of  supposed  friends,  maltreatment  of  Indians,  their  sale  into 
slavery,  and  like  offences.  There  were  exceptional  misdeeds  on 
the  part  of  white  men,  and  it  must  be  remembered  that  not  all 
the  Indians  were  examples  of  childlike  innocence  and  good-will. 
Yet  there  were  some  good  Indians  that  were  not  dead  Indians, 
and  the  majority  of  the  white  settlers  treated  them  with  justice 
and  kindness.  For  fifty  years  there  was  little  trouble  with 
them,  and  no  war  would  have  been  waged  with  them,  in  all  proba- 
bility, had  it  not  been  for  conflict  between  the  people  of  France 
and  Great  Britain.  These  nations  carried  their  quarrels  and 
ambitions  into  their  foreign  possessions.  One  prize  at  stake  was 
a  continent,  or  a  large  part  thereof,  though  neither  party  then 
knew  the  value  of  the  prize.  The  French  stirred  up  some  Indian 
tribes  against  the  English,  and  the  English  retaliated,  whenever 
they  could,  in  like  manner. 

The  first  clash  of  arms  was  in  what  is  known  in  history  as 
King  Philip's  War.  In  1675  began  the  depredations  in  Maine  and 
New  Hampshire.  Hubbard  records  that  in  that  year  the  Indians 
burned  five  or  six  houses  at  Oyster  River  and  killed  two  men, 
namely  William  Roberts  and  his  son-in-law.  This  William 
Roberts  lived  on  the  south  side  of  the  river,  about  two  miles 
below  the  Falls.  There  is  no  record  that  any  of  his  neighbors 
were  disturbed,  and  he  may  have  been  away  from  home.  Who 
the  son-in-law  was  has  not  been  ascertained.  Five  sons-in-law 
are  mentioned  after  this  date  as  living,  and  only  five  daughters 
have  been  found.  He  had  a  son,  William  Roberts,  Jr.,  who  is 
mentioned  in  Court  Records  before  this  as  a  simple-minded  youth, 

85 


86  HISTORY   OF   DURHAM 

and  is  not  mentioned  anywhere  after  1675.  He  may  have  been 
the  one  who  was  killed  with  his  father. 

Soon  after  this,  in  the  same  year,  the  Indians  "assaulted 
another  house  at  Oyster  River,  the  which,  although  it  was  gar- 
risoned, yet  meeting  with  a  good  old  man,  whose  name  was 
Beard,  without  the  garrison,  they  killed  him  upon  the  place  and 
in  a  barbarous  manner  cut  off  his  head  and  set  it  upon  a  pole  in 
derision.  Not  far  off,  about  the  same  time,  they  burned  another 
house  and  barn."1  The  man  slain  was  William  Beard,  whose 
garrison  stood  "east  of  Beard's  creek,  between  the  turnpike  road 
and  the  highway  to  Dover,  a  short  distance  from  the  corner." 
Probate  records  declare  that  he  died  about  the  first  of  November, 
1675.  Hubbard  goes  on  to  say  that  the  same  year  the  Indians 
"burned  two  Cheslies  houses  about  Oyster  River  and  killed  two 
men  that  were  passing  along  the  river  in  a  canoe  and  carried 
away  an  old  Irishman  with  a  young  man  taken  from  about 
Exeter."  The  two  escaped  later.  History  does  not  tell  us  who 
the  men  slain  were.  The  Chesley  families  were  nearest  neighbors 
to  Beard  and  probably  were  in  his  garrison,  when  their  houses 
were  burned,  for  they  survived  this  raid. 

The  following  letter  was  written  shortly  after  the  well  known 
massacre  at  Cochecho,  when  Major  Waldron  and  twenty-two 
others  were  killed  and  twenty-nine  were  carried  into  captivity. 
It  seems  that  the  Indians  then  made  an  attack  upon  some  part 
of  Oyster  River  Plantation,  though  the  historians  have  made  no 
note  of  it.     The  letter  is  found  in  the  Massachusetts  Archives: 

Hampton,  July  30,  1689. 
Major  Pike  Sir:  thes  are  to  informe  you  that  this  last  night  There  came 
news  to  me  ffrom  Exeter  that  one  of  Phillip  Cromwells  Sons  came  yesterday 
from  oyster  River  where  were  20  Indiens  Seen  and  seueral  Houses  Burning. 
About  20  English  ishued  out  to  beat  them  off  a  many  guns  were  herd  go  off  but 
he  coming  away  while  it  was  a  doing  we  have  not  as  yett  any  account  of  what 
harmeistherdoneand  we  thank  you  for  your  care  about  our  ....  Al- 
though no  help  could  be  procured  there  is  but  a  few  could  be  procured  with 
us  the  notice  was  so  suddaine  but  thos  that  are  gon  went  yesterday  when  it  was 
almost  night  they  were  willing  to  stay  no  longer.  When  I  have  account 
farther  from  Oyster  River  I  will  send  it  to  you  not  Els  at  present. 

ffrom  your  ffriend 

Samuell  Sherburne  -. 

•Hubbard  s  Indian  Wars,  Vol.  II,  pp,  no,  116,  118.      Cf.  Landmarks  in  Ancient   Dover, 
by  Miss  Mary  P.  Thompson,  p.  178. 
2Memoranda  of  Ancient  Dover,  p.  269. 


HISTORY   OF   DURHAM  87 

The  messenger  above  mentioned  may  have  been  a  son  of 
Philip  Crommett,  who  is  sometimes  called  Cromwell  in  the  old 
records.  He  lived  at  this  time  near  the  northern  border  of  Exe- 
ter, now  Newmarket. 

The  next  attack  of  the  Indians  upon  Oyster  River  was  in 
1689.  Then  the  Rev.  John  Pike  records  in  his  Journal  that  in 
August  "James  Huggins  [Huckins]  of  Oyster  River  was  slain, 
his  garrison  taken  and  18  persons  killed  and  carried  away." 
James  Huckins  was  a  lieutenant  and  had  been  one  of  the  select- 
men of  Dover.  He  had  a  garrison-house,  which  stood  a  few 
rods  south  of  the  house  now  owned  by  heirs  of  the  late  Andrew  E. 
Meserve,  east  of  the  railroad  and  on  the  north  side  of  the  second 
road  crossed  by  the  railroad  as  it  runs  from  Durham  to  Dover. 
The  men  slain  were  at  work  in  the  field  which  lies  southeast  of 
the  garrison,  beyond  Huckins'  brook.  They  were  all  buried  under 
a  mound  which  still  exists  in  the  southeast  corner  of  the  field 
which  now  belongs  to  the  Coe  family.  The  Indians  then  attacked 
the  garrison-house  defended  by  only  two  boys  and  some  women 
and  children.  They  managed  to  set  fire  to  the  roof  of  the  garrison 
but  the  boys  held  out  till  the  Indians  promised  to  spare  the  lives 
of  all.  Yet  they  killed  three  or  four  of  the  children  and  carried 
away  the  rest  of  the  inmates  of  the  garrison,  except  one  of  the 
boys,  probably  Robert  Huckins,  who  escaped  the  next  day. 
The  garrison-house  was  destroyed.  Lieut.  Huckins'  widow  was 
recovered  after  a  year  of  captivity  at  Fort  Androscoggin,  which 
was  located  on  Laurel  Hill,  Auburn,  Me. 

Some  details  of  this  attack  have  been  preserved  in  a  letter  of 
Jeremiah  Swayen  to  Governor  Simon  Bradstreet,  dated  at  Salmon 
Falls  "7ber  15  1689."  He  says,  "a  house  poorly  fortified  at 
Oyster  River  was  taken  by  ye  Enimie  being  about  Sixty  in  y8 
company;  though  part  of  capn  Gardners  Compa  lodged  the 
night  before  at  said  house  and  were  moved  away  about  half  an 
hour  before  ye  assault  and  were  got  to  Cocheacha  where  a  post 
overtooke  them  and  they  faced  about  &  persued  ye  Enimy  but 
could  not  find  them.  .  .  .  One  of  ye  captives  made  his 
escape  two  days  after  he  was  taken,  whom  ye  Indians  tould  that 
they  had  beleagerd  ye  place  three  days  and  when  they  knew  how 
many  men  belonged  to  ye  house  &  seeing  ym  all  gathering  corn 
came  and  killed  them  first,  and  then  sett  upon  ye  house  where 
were  onely  Woomen  children  &  two  Boyes,  they  killed  and  Cap- 


05  HISTORY   OF    DURHAM 

tivated  Eighteene  persons  none  escapeing. "  Coll.  of  Maine 
Historical  Society,  IX,  57. 

On  the  fourth  of  July,  1690,  seven  persons  were  slain  and  a  lad 
taken  at  "  Lamperell  River, "  that  is,  in  the  vicinity  of  the  present 
village  of  Newmarket.  Two  days  later,  6  July,  occurred  the 
battle,  when  "Capt.  Floyd  fought  the  enemy  at  Wheelwright's 
Pond  but  was  forced  to  retire  with  loss  of  16  men, "  as  Pike  says.1 
It  was  a  very  hot  day  and  the  men  of  Oyster  River  made  all 
haste  to  arrive  at  the  scene  of  action.  Among  them  was  James 
Smith,  who  lived  near  the  Falls.  Of  him  it  is  recorded  that  he 
"died  of  a  surfeit  which  he  got  by  running  to  assist  Capt.  Floyd 
at  Wheelwright's  pond." 

History  gives  but  few  details  of  the  battle  at  Wheelwright's 
Pond,  which  was  a  running  fight  through  woods,  after  Indian 
fashion,  beginning,  as  local  tradition  says,  at  Turtle  Pond  in 
Lee  and  extending  to  the  southeast  side  of  Wheelwright's  Pond 
in  the  same  town.  One  hundred  men,  under  command  of  Capt. 
Noah  Wiswall  and  Capt.  John  Floyd,  set  out  from  Dover.  The 
fight  was  on  Sunday.  Captain  Wiswall,  Lieut.  Flag,  Serg. 
Walker,  and  twelve  privates  were  killed,  when  both  parties  with- 
drew from  the  conflict.  Capt.  Converse  found  seven  wounded 
men  yet  alive  and  brought  them  to  the  hospital  by  sun-rise  the 
next  morning,  says  Mather.  Probably  all  of  the  men  at  Oyster 
River  who  were  enrolled  in  the  militia  had  a  part  in  this  battle, 
as  we  may  infer  from  the  following  petition,  found  in  the  Massa- 
chusetts Archives. 

Petition  of  Thomas  Footman 
March  the  29th  1692. 
To  the  honorable  court  now  sitting  in  Portsm°  the  humble  peticon  of  thomas 
ffootman  humbly  shueth  that  your  petitioner  being  Imprest  almost  two  years 
past  to  serve  their  magstys  and  on  the  first  expedition  was  Listed  under  the 
honorable  Capt.  John  floyd  where  upon  ye  first  ffight  our  commander  had  (which 
was  at  osteriver  New  town)  your  petitioner  was  wounded,  of  which  wounds 
your  petitioner  is  not  healed,  nor  cannot  Expect  to  be  ever  Able  to  work  to 
get  a  Competant  Living,  your  peticoner  being  Reduced  to  so  weake  and  Low 
Estate  nothing  to  help  himself  for  present  nor  for  futuer  no  wages  Reseved, 
nor  non  to  pittea  poore  wounded  soulder,  Charrityealsogronecold  the  doctors 
they  demand  money,  your  peticioner  having  for  himself  nether  meat  nor  drink 
nor  Cloths,  makes  your  peticoner  humble  address  his  poore  and  miserable  Lowe 
Condition  to  this  Honorable  Court  humbly  praying  Releff  not  doubting  but 

'Mather's  Magnalia,  App.  Art.,  VI.      N.  E.  Reg.  VII,  156.  Id.,  XVIII,  161.   Pike's  Jour- 
nal.    Thompson's  Landmarks  in  Ancient  Dover,  p.  180. 


HISTORY    OF   DURHAM  »9 

this  honorable  Court  will  bee  pleased  to  Consider  Your  peticconers  Case  and 
find  a  way  that  your  petitioner  may  be  Releved  &  your  petitioner  shall  pray 

Thomas  ffootman.i 

John  Davis  certified  that  he  impressed  Thomas  Footman  on  the 
20th  day  of  June  1690,  by  order  of  Major  Vaughan,  for  the 
expedition  to  Winipisiocke.  Accompanying  this  petition  is  an 
account  of  "Lowis  and  Cristan  Willames,"  [Lewis  and  Christian 
Williams  of  Portsmouth]  "of  ther  Charg  to  Thomas  fottman 
for  his  tendance  and  seven  months  diate  during  the  Cure  in 
which  time  the  said  fottman  was  not  able  to  put  on  his  Cloathes 
which  is  7  shillings  and  16  pence  a  week. "  John  Davis  certified 
that  the  bill  of  the  "Cerorgon"  [chirurgeon,  surgeon]  was  six 
pounds. 

It  appears  from  the  above  that  the  fight  began  at  "  Newtown, " 
an  undefined  locality,  north  of  Turtle  Pond  and  extending  to  the 
upper  part  of  Oyster  River  and  towards  Wheelwright's  Pond. 

The  French  and  Indians  seem  to  have  had  little  regard  for 
solemn  treaties  of  peace.  That  made  at  Pemaquid  was  suddenly 
broken  by  the  attack  upon  Oyster  River,  18  July  1694,  said  by 
captives  to  have  been  talked  of  in  the  streets  of  Quebec  two 
months  before.  Pike's  Journal  records  the  terrible  event  in  the 
following  laconic  sentences:  "The  Indians  fell  suddenly  & 
unexpectedly  upon  Oyster  River  about  break  of  day.  Took  3 
garrisons  (being  deserted  or  not  defended)  killed  &  carried  away 
94  persons,  &  burnt  13  houses.  This  was  the  first  act  of  hostility 
committed  by  them  after  ye  peace  concluded  at  Pemiquid." 

There  were  warnings  that  led  some  persons  to  be  apprehensive 
of  danger,  warnings  which  were  long  remembered  and  interpreted 
with  suspicion.  Col.  Richard  Waldron  wrote  to  Governor  Dudley, 
under  date  of  22  September  1712,  thus:  "Cap*  Davis  tells  me 
y*  last  night  at  oyster  river  in  the  dead  of  ye  Night  there  were 
doors  knock'd  at  &  Stones  flung  at  Some  Garrisons,  to  find  out 
who  liv'd  in  their  houses  &  whether  any  watch  was  kept  in  their 
Garrisons,  as  the  enemy  did  ye  Night  before  Oyster  river  was 
Destroy 'd  &  Wee  are  well  assured  Some  Scouts  of  the  Enemy  are 
now  near  us."2 

The  account  of  this  attack  as  given  by  Dr.  Belknap  in  his 
History  of  New  Hampshire  is  said  to  have  been  drawn  from 
manuscripts  in  the  possession  of  the  Smith  family  of  Durham. 

1  Collections  of  the  Maine  Historical  Society,  2d  Series,  Vol.  4,  pp.  382-3. 

2  Collections  of  the  Maine  Historical  Society,  IX,  330. 


90  HISTORY   OF   DURHAM 

But  little  can  be  added  thereto  from  public  records  and  published 
histories.  On  Tuesday  evening,  17  July,  the  enemy  to  the 
number  of  about  250  concealed  themselves  in  the  woods  and 
divided  into  two  bands,  one  for  the  north  side  of  the  river  and  the 
other  for  the  south.  The  latter  began  the  attack  somewhat 
prematurely.  John  Dean,  who  lived  near  the  Falls,  on  the  north 
side  of  the  river,  arose  before  day  to  catch  his  horse,  intending 
to  leave  home  in  the  morning.  He  was  fired  upon  and  killed. 
The  report  of  the  gun  was  heard  and  warning  was  thus  given  to 
some  households.  The  undefended  fled  to  the  nearest  garrisons, 
and  some  were  killed  in  their  flight.  Mrs.  Dean  and  her  daughter 
were  captured  and  her  house  was  burned.  They  were  taken  to  a 
spruce  swamp  and  left  in  the  care  of  an  old  Indian  who  had  a 
violent  headache.  He  asked  her  for  a  remedy  and  she  replied, 
"occapee,"  the  Indian  term  for  rum.  He  drank  freely  and  she 
and  her  daughter  made  their  escape.  They  hid  in  a  thicket 
during  the  day  and  then  went  down  the  river  in  a  canoe  to  Burn- 
ham's  garrison,  where  they  found  protection. 

The  next  house  attacked  seems  to  have  been  that  of  Ensign 
John  Davis,  who  lived  perhaps  half  a  mile  below  the  Falls.  He 
surrendered  on  the  promise  of  safety,  yet  he,  his  wife  and  several 
children  were  killed,  and  his  house  was  burned.  Two  daughters 
were  made  captive,  one  of  whom  became  a  nun  in  Canada  and 
never  returned.  The  other  returned  and  became  the  wife  of 
Peter  Mason.  A  sister  of  Ensign  Davis,  who  was  the  widow  of 
James  Smith  before  mentioned,  was  living  at  the  house  of  her 
brother  and  was  killed  at  the  same  time  with  her  sons,  James  and 
Samuel,  after  having  been  carried  into  the  woods.  The  state- 
ment has  been  made  that  the  oldest  son  of  Mrs.  Smith  escaped  to 
the  river  but  was  there  shot.  This  may  be  doubted,  since  John 
Smith,  her  son,  lived  to  marry  Elizabeth  Buss  and  have  a  numer- 
ous family.  Two  daughters  also  were  spared,  as  subsequent 
deeds  clearly  show. 

The  next  house  below  Davis'  was  the  Burnham  garrison,  on  a 
hilltop,  easily  defended  by  its  situation.  Hither  fled  Moses 
Davis,  who  had  heard  the  first  shot  that  killed  John  Dean.  Eze- 
kiel  Pitman  and  family,  who  lived  only  a  gun-shot's  distance  from 
Burnham's,  were  alarmed  by  shouts.  They  escaped  through  one 
end  of  the  house  while  the  Indians  were  entering  the  other,  and, 
protected  by  the  shade  of  trees,  made  their  way  to  the  Burnham 


HISTORY   OF   DURHAM  9I 

garrison,  on  which  no  serious  attack  seems  to  have  been  made. 
Tradition  in  the  Burnham  family  says  that  the  yard-gate  had  been 
left  open  that  night,  and  ten  Indians  were  sent  to  surprise  the 
garrison.  They  were  fatigued  and  fell  asleep  on  the  bank  of  the 
river  near  the  house.  John  Willey  with  his  family  spent  that 
night  at  the  Burnham  garrison.  He  had  been  kept  awake  by 
toothache  and  heard  the  first  gun  fired.  He  immediately  closed 
the  gate  and  shouted  to  the  Pitman  family.  The  shout  awaked 
the  Indians,  who  at  once  made  the  attack  upon  the  Pitman 
dwelling. 

The  next  house  below  Ezekiel  Pitman's  was  that  of  Stephen 
Jenkins,  who  had  bought  the  place  of  William  Williams.  He 
lived  on  the  hill,  about  where  the  present  old  house  of  Benjamin 
Mathes  stands.  On  the  26th  of  July  1694,  only  eight  days  after 
the  massacre,  it  was  recorded  in  the  Probate  Court,  that  "ad- 
ministration on  the  estate  of  Stephen  Jenkins  of  Oyster  River, 
who  was  killed  by  the  Indians  and  left  several  small  children,  was 
granted  to  his  brother,  Jabez  Jenkins  of  Kittery,  Maine. "  Ann, 
wife  of  Stephen  Jenkins,  was  carried  into  captivity  and  returned 
in  time  to  give  testimony  in  the  trial  of  the  noted  Indian  chief, 
Bomazeen,  at  Boston,  who  escaped  with  his  life  at  this  trial  and 
was  slain  in  the  attack  on  the  village  of  the  Norridgewocks,  in 
1724.  The  deposition  of  "Ann  Jenkins,  her  within  written 
testimony,"  dated  11  June  1695,  gives  many  details  of  this 
massacre. 

Ann  Jenkins,  of  full  age,  Testifieth  &  saith,  that  at  Oyster  River,  on  the 
eighteenth  of  July  last  past,  in  the  morning  about  the  dawning  of  the  day  my 
husband  being  up  went  out  of  the  dore,  &  presently  returning  cried  to  me  &  our 
children  to  run  for  our  lives,  for  the  Indians  had  beset  the  town:  whereupon 
my  husband  &  myself  fled  with  our  children  into  our  corne  field,  &  at  our 
entrance  into  the  field,  Bomazeen,  whoume  I  have  seen  since  I  came  out  of 
captivity  in  the  prison,  came  towards  us  &  about  ten  Indians  more:  &  the  sd 
Bomazeen  then  shot  at  my  husband  and  shote  him  down,  ran  to  him  &  struck 
him  three  blows  on  the  head  with  a  hatchet,  scalped  him  &  run  him  three 
times  with  a  bayonet.  I  also  saw  the  said  Bomazeen  knock  one  of  my  children 
on  the  head  &  tooke  of  her  scalp  &  then  put  the  child  into  her  father's  armes; 
and  then  stabbed  the  breast.  And  Bomazeen  also  then  killed  my  husband's 
grandmother  &  scalped  her,  and  then  led  me  up  to  a  house  and  plundered  it 
&  then  set  it  on  fire  &  carried  me  &  my  three  children  into  captivity,  together 
with  the  rest  of  our  neighbors,  whose  lives  were  spared,  being  at  first  forty  nine: 
but  in  one  miles  goeing,  or  thereabouts,  they  killed  three  children,  so  there 
remained  forty  six  captives.  &  that  night  the  company  parted  &  the  captives 
were  distributed,  but   before  they  parted   I,   this  deponent,   numbered  one 


92  HISTORY   OF    DURHAM 

hundred  and  fourty  of  Indians&  fourteen  frenchmen  &  then,  when  I  tooke  ac- 
count, there  were  more  fireing  at  Woodmans garrison  &at  Burnhams  garrison, 
but  the  number  unknown  to  me.  Myself  with  nine  captives  more  were 
carried  up  to  penecook  &  were  Left  with  three  Indians,  &  that  party  went 
to  Greaten,  Bomazeen  being  their  Commander.  In  nine  days  they  returned 
&  brought  twelve  captives:  &  from  thence  with  their  canoes,  sometimes 
a  float,  &  sometimes  carried,  untill  that  we  came  to  Norridgeawocke,  which 
took  us  fifteen  dayes,  &  staid  about  two  months  there,  then  dispersed  into 
the  woods,  twoe  or  three  families  in  a  place,  &  kept  moving  toe  &  f  roe,  staeing 
about  a  week  in  a  place,  until  they  brought  us  down  to  pemaquid  &  delivered 
us  to  Capt.  March.  Bomazeen  was  my  Master;  his  wife  my  Mistriss,  untill 
Bomazeen  was  taken  at  pemaquid;  after  that  I  belonged  to  his  wife,  untill 
about  two  months  before  I  was  brought  down  to  pemaquid;  for  then  the 
Indian  Minister,  called  prince  Waxaway,  bought  me,  when  I  was  brought  to 
great  weakness  and  extremity  by  their  bad  usage,  and  showed  me  great  kind- 
ness; by  whose  means,  under  God,  my  life  was  preserved.  My  mistriss  was 
very  cruel  to  me  &  I  was  cruelly  whipt  seaven  times  &  they  intended  so  to 
proceed,  once  a  week,  untill  they  had  killed  me;  but  that  the  Indian  Minister 
had  compassion  on  me  &  rescued  me.  That  Indian  Minister  also  bought 
three  captives  more,  and  freed  them  from  their  hard  usage.  Their  names 
are  Nicholas  Frost,  Sarah  Braggonton  and  Thomsand  Drue. 

The  mark  of  W  An  Jenkins. 

Notice  that  the  manual  sign  of  Ann  Jenkins  was  W.  Was 
her  maiden  name  Williams?  The  Nicholas  Frost  mentioned  in 
her  deposition  was  the  beaver-trader  of  Kittery,  now  Eliot,  Me. 
Sarah  Braggonton  was  doubtless  of  the  family  of  Arthur  Bragdon 
of  York  and  Thomsand  Drue  was  Thomasine,  or  Tamsen  Drew 
of  whom  we  shall  learn  more  a  little  later. 

Mention  is  made  in  the  above  deposition  of  a  house  near  to 
Jenkins'  that  was  plundered  and  set  on  fire.  This  must  have 
been  the  house  of  the  Rev.  John  Buss,  who  was  at  the  time  away 
from  home.  His  house,  which  was  the  parsonage,  together  with 
the  church,  stood  near  the  bank  of  the  river,  or  perhaps  a  few 
rods  therefrom, on  higher  ground.  His  family  hid  among  the  trees 
till  the  enemy  withdrew.  The  church,  which  stood  near  the 
parsonage,  was  not  burned  at  this  time  and  religious  services 
were  held  there  after  17 18. 

The  fact  that  Bartholomew  Stevenson  was  appointed,  4  August 
1694,  administrator  of  the  estates  of  his  brothers,  Thomas  and 
Joseph  Stevenson,  leads  to  the  inference  that  these  two  brothers 
perished  in  this  massacre.  They  lived  near  the  garrison  of  Thomas 
Drew,  who,  according  to  Probate  Records,  "was  killed  by  Indians 
and  left  no  will."     Administration  was  granted   to  his  widow 


HISTORY   OF    DURHAM  93 

Mary,  30  July  1694.  Thomas  Drew  has  been  confused  with 
Francis  Drew,  who  married  Lydia  Bickford.  The  latter  sur- 
rendered the  garrison  at  Drew's  Point,  on  promise  of  quarter. 
He  is  supposed  to  have  killed  an  Indian,  whose  bones  were  found 
in  the  house  after  it  was  burned.  Francis  Drew  attempted  to 
escape  and  ran  towards  the  Adams  garrison  but  was  overtaken 
by  the  Indians,  bound  and  tomahawked.  His  wife  was  carried 
away  and  was  rendered  so  feeble  by  hunger  that  she  was  left  to 
die  in  the  woods.  "Administration  on  the  estate  of  Francis 
Drew  of  Oyster  River,  who  was  killed  by  the  Indians  and  left 
no  will,  granted  to  his  brother,  John,  Nov.  16,  1694."  Two 
years  later  administration  on  the  estate  of  Francis  Drew  was 
granted  to  his  oldest  son,  Thomas,  he  being  "  now  returned  out  of 
the  hands  of  the  Indian  Enemy."  This  Thomas  Drew  had 
been  married  about  six  months  to  wife,  Tamsen,  and  lived  with 
his  father.  He  was  taken  to  Canada  and  his  wife  to  Norridge- 
wock,  whence  she  returned  after  about  four  years,  to  become  the 
mother  of  fourteen  children.  The  following  deposition  by  her 
sheds  further  light  on  the  massacre  of  1694: 

The  Deposition  of  Damsen  Drew  lately  dwelling  att  Oyster  River  in  Pis- 
cataqua. 

This  Deponent  maketh  Oath  that  on  or  about  the  last  day  of  August  [evi- 
dently an  error  of  memory]  in  the  year  1694  she  this  Deponent  being  in  Bed 
with  her  Husband  they  heard  a  great  Tumult  and  Noise  of  firing  of  Guns  which 
awakened  her  out  of  her  sleep,  and  she  understanding  that  the  Indians  were  in 
arms  &  had  encompassed  the  House,  willing  to  make  her  escape,  she  endeav- 
ored &  att  last  got  out  of  the  window  and  fled,  but  the  Indians  firing  fast  after 
her  she  returned  to  the  House  and  her  father  in  law  took  her  by  the  hand  and 
haled  her  into  the  House  again,  where  upon  she  endeavored  to  get  out  at 
another  window,  but  the  Indians  had  besett  that,  so  she  returned  to  the  other 
Room  where  her  friends  were,  and  the  window  of  that  Room  being  open  an 
Indian  named  Bombazine  (as  she  was  then  informed  &  has  since  seen  and 
known  him  in  the  Prison  at  Boston)  caught  hold  of  her  Arm  and  pulled  her 
out  att  the  Window  &  threw  her  violently  upon  the  ground,  she  being  then 
with  child  &  when  he  had  so  done  he  went  into  the  House  to  plunder,  when 
another  Indian  named  Assurowlaway  (who  could  speak  good  English)  came 
to  her  &  told  her  she  would  receive  no  hurt  &  took  her  and  carryed  her  into 
the  woods,  And  further  this  Deponent  saith  not. 

The  mark  of  Damson  x  Drew. 

Boston,  May  23^  1698. 

Tamsen  Drew  "was  delivered  of  a  child  in  the  winter,  in  the 
open  air  and  in  a  violent  snow  storm.  Being  unable  to  suckle 
her  child  or  provide  it  with  food,  the  Indians  killed  it.     She  lived 


94  HISTORY   OF    DURHAM 

fourteen  days  on  a  decoction  of  the  bark  of  trees.  Once  they 
set  her  to  draw  a  sled  up  a  river  against  a  piercing  northwest 
wind  and  left  her.  She  was  so  overcome  with  the  cold  that  she 
grew  sleepy,  laid  down  and  was  nearly  dead  when  they  returned; 
they  carried  her  senseless  to  a  wigwam  and  poured  warm  water 
down  her  throat,  which  recovered  her."  Belknap's  History  of 
New  Hampshire,  p.  141.  Footnote  by  John  Farmer,  giving 
traditionary  information  obtained  from  John  Smith. 

There  were  fifteen  in  the  Drew  family  at  the  time  of  the  mas- 
sacre. John  Drew  was  put  out  of  the  window  and  escaped,  proba- 
bly to  be  killed  by  Indians  a  few  years  later.  Benjamin  Drew 
was  about  nine  years  old.  He  was  carried  over  YYinnipiseogee 
and  made  to  run  the  gauntlet  till  he  was  cut  down  with  toma- 
hawks. Thomas  Drew  and  his  wife,  Tamsen,  lived  to  very  old 
age  and,  dying  about  the  same  time,  were  buried  in  the  same 
grave. 

The  Matthews,  or  Mathes,  garrison  seems  to  have  resisted 
attack  and  probably  sheltered  some  of  the  neighbors.  All  houses 
between  this  and  the  Burnham  garrison  were,  doubtless,  burned. 

The  Adams  garrison  stood  south  of  the  road  to  Durham  Point 
and  not  far  from  the  ruins  of  the  brick  house  built  by  Washington 
Mathes.  This  garrison  was  burned,  and  Charles  Adams  and 
wife,  his  son,  Samuel,  and  wife,  and  eleven  others  were  killed. 
The  wife  of  Samuel  Adams,  being  then  pregnant,  was  ripped  up. 
They  were  all  buried  in  one  grave,  near  the  Mathes  Cemetery. 
A  son,  Charles  Adams,  survived  his  father  but  a  few  months,  and 
so  this  branch  of  the  Adams  family  ceased  to  transmit  the  sur- 
name, though  descendants  of  the  first  Charles  Adams  are  many 
in  the  Tasker,  Nock,  Durrell  and  Bickford  lines. 

After  setting  fire  to  the  Adams  garrison  the  Indians  attacked 
the  garrison  of  Thomas  Bickford  at  the  extremity  of  the  Point. 
Bickford's  defence  of  his  house  seems  to  have  been  about  the  only 
item  of  special  interest  in  this  massacre  that  the  Rev.  Cotton 
Mather  thought  worthy  of  being  recorded  in  his  Magnalia  Christi 
Americana.     He  says: 

Several  persons  remarkably  escaped  this  bloody  deluge,  but  none  with  more 
bravery  than  one  Thomas  Bickford,  who  had  an  house,  a  little  pallisadoed,  by 
the  river  side,  but  no  man  in  it  besides  himself.  He  dexterously  put  his  wife 
and  mother  and  children  aboard  a  canoe,  and,  sending  them  down  the  river, 
he  alone  betook  himself  to  the  defence  of  his  house,  against  many  Indians  that 
made  an  assault  upon  him.    They  first  would  have  persuaded  him  with  many 


HISTORY   OF   DURHAM  95 

fair  promises,  and  then  terrified  him  with  as  many  fierce  threatenings,  to 
yield  himself;  but  he  flouted  and  fired  at  them,  daring  'em  to  come  if  they 
durst.  His  main  strategem  was  to  change  his  livery  as  frequently  as  he  could ; 
appearing  sometimes  in  one  coat,  sometimes  in  another,  sometimes  in  an 
hat  and  sometimes  in  a  cap;  which  caused  his  besiegers  to  mistake  this  one 
for  many  defendants.  In  fine,  the  pitiful  wretches,  despairing  to  beat  him 
out  of  his  house,  e'en  left  him  in  it;  whereas  many  that  opened  unto  them 
upon  their  solemn  engagements  of  giving  them  life  and  good  quarter,  were 
barbarously  butchered  by  them. 

Abigail,  Judy  and  Elizabeth  Willey  were  captured  and  were 
still  in  captivity  in  1699. 

John  Edgerly,  grandson  of  the  first  Thomas  Edgerly,  is  the 
authority  for  the  statement  that  his  uncle,  Thomas  Edgerly, 
lived  at  Ambler's.  That  must  mean  that  he  lived  where  John 
Ambler  afterward  lived,  who  bought,  in  1703,  the  place  where  now 
lives  the  Hon.  Jeremiah  Langley.  This  Thomas  Edgerly,  Jr., 
married  Jane  Whedon  in  1691.  The  above  named  authority 
relates  that  "upon  hearing  the  Indians  he,  his  wife,  and  her 
sister  jumped  out  of  bed  and  got  down  cellar,  leaving  their  children 
in  bed;  the  Indians  came  in,  killed  the  children,  and  one  or  two 
persons  living  in  the  other  end  of  the  house  were  taken;  they 
looked  into  the  cellar,  but  did  not  go  down.  They  rifled  the 
house  and  fired  it;  as  soon  as  they  were  gone  he  put  the  fire  out.  " 
This  Thomas  Edgerly  removed  to  Exeter  in  the  year  1700. 

Thomas  Edgerly,  senior,  sent  a  petition  to  the  Governor  and 
Council  at  Strawberry  Bank.  It  has  no  date  but  it  was  consid- 
ered in  Council  20  July,  so  that  it  must  have  been  written  the 
next  day  after  the  massacre.     It  is  as  follows: 

Whereas  it  has  pleased  God  to  cast  affliction  upon  him  and  his  Neighbours 
by  the  sudden  incursion  of  the  Indian  Enemyes,  having  his  Son  wounded, 
now  Remaining  at  Strawbery  Bank  under  Capt.  Packers  hand,  and  his  dwell- 
ing house  burned,  and  his  goods  Destroyed. 

Humbly  Desires  your  Consideration  of  his  Low  Condition  and  that  you 
would  Graunt  him  and  his  Neigh"  Liberty  to  make  the  house  of  John  Rand 
Deceased  a  Garrison  ffor  the  Security  and  defence  of  some  of  the  Remaining 
ffamilies  adjacent,  and  to  Graunt  us  supply  of  six  men,  and  we  shall  always 
pray  ffor  your  happiness  and  Prosperity.  [N.  H.  State  Papers,  Vol.  XVIII, 
p.  640.] 

John  Rand,  mentioned  in  this  petition,  married  Remembrance, 
daughter  of  John  Ault,  and  sister  to  Rebecca,  wife  of  Thomas 
Edgerly.  The  old  farm  of  John  Ault,  bordering  on  Plum  Swamp 
brook,  had  been  divided  between  Edgerly  and  Rand.    It  stretched 


96  HISTORY   OF   DURHAM 

from  Little  Bay  back  into  the  woods,  and  on  this  farm  was  the 
Rand-Edgerly  garrison,  wherein  soldiers  were  quartered  after  the 
time  of  the  massacre,  soldiers  impressed  from  Hampton.  The 
Probate  Records  declare  that  administration  on  the  estate  of 
John  Rand  and  Remembrance  Rand  was  granted  to  John  Rand, 
probably  their  son,  and  that  his  bond,  dated  March  1694/5,  had 
for  sureties  Thomas  Edgerly  and  Edward  Leathers.  It  is  proba- 
ble that  John  Rand  and  his  wife,  Remembrance,  perished  in  the 
massacre.  A  boy,  named  Samuel  Rand,  was  redeemed  from 
captivity  in  1695  and  Remembrance  Rand  was  still  a  captive  in 
1 7 10.  Thomas  Edgerly,  senior,  his  son  Joseph  and  a  daughter 
were  taken  captive.  The  rest  of  the  family  got  into  a  canoe  and 
as  they  were  setting  off  the  Indians  fired  upon  them  and  mortally 
wounded  his  son,  Zechariah.  Among  the  captives  returned, 
17  January  1698/9,  were  Elizabeth  Edgerly  and  Susanna  Edgerly, 
while  Joseph  Edgerly  was  then  remaining  in  captivity.  He 
returned  in  1706.  See  Coll.  of  the  Maine  Historical  Society, 
2d  Series,  Vol.  V,  516. 

Early  tradition  records  that  one  Kent  (it  must  have  been 
Joseph  Kent,  if  the  tradition  be  true),  upon  hearing  firing,  got 
up  and  looked  out,  when  he  saw  Indians  waiting  for  him.  He 
was  so  surprised  that  he  did  not  stop  to  awake  his  family,  but 
secured  himself  in  a  drain  that  led  from  the  house,  where  he  lay 
all  day.  His  family  were  soon  after  aroused  by  the  firing,  about 
which  time  the  Indians  that  were  around  the  house  retired  to 
assist  their  companions,  who  were  besieging  the  Drew  garrison. 
This  gave  Kent's  wife  an  opportunity  to  escape  with  her  children. 

It  seems  that  the  Indians  also  molested  at  this  time  the  inhabi- 
tants along  the  shore  of  Great  Bay  and  those  living  on  the  road 
from  Oyster  River  Falls  to  Lamprey  River.  Peter  Denbow  was 
carried  into  captivity,  where  he  yet  remained  in  the  beginning  of 
1698/9.  The  Indians  seem  to  have  hastened  back  by  the  same 
way  they  came,  the  main  road  leading  from  Bickford's  Ferry  to 
the  Falls.  They  assembled  with  their  captives  in  the  meadow 
west  of  the  Burnham  garrison  and,  making  some  insulting  signs, 
one  of  them  was  shot  at  long  range. 

The  following  petition  implies  that  the  Indians  attacked 
another  part  of  the  town : 


HISTORY   OF    DURHAM  97 

January  8th  1694/5 
To  ye  honored  President  &  Council  now  sitting  at  New  Castle,  in  ye  Great 
Island. 
The  humble  Petition  of  William  Graves  humbly  sueeth  y*  your  honours 
would  please  to  take  into  your  consideration  ye  distressed  estate  and  condition 
of  your  poor  Petitioner,  who  at  y°  last  desolation  at  Oyster  River  was  wounded 
by  ye  enemie  &  his  estate  demolisht,  who  since  hath  been  a  long  time  with  the 
Chirurgeon  for  cure  &  by  ye  blessing  of  God  hath  arrived  to  a  good  measure 
of  health;  but  hath  not  wherewithall  to  answear  ye  Doctor,  nor  to  help  him- 
self, humbly  craveth  some  succour  &  reliefe  therein ;  whereby  you  will  do  a  very 
charitable  Deed  and  oblige  him  to  pray  for  your  honours  prosperity, 

Your  humble  Petitioner 

William  Graves. 
[N.  H.  Province  Papers,  II,  147.] 

There  was  another  petition,  without  date  but  considered  in 
Council  20  July,  1694,  together  with  that  of  Thomas  Edgerly, 
so  that  both  must  have  been  written  19  July  1694,  the  next  day 
after  the  massacre.  It  shows  that  all  the  families  at  Lubberland 
were  driven  away,  perhaps  through  fear  of  an  attack.  It  shows, 
too,  that  in  1694  the  whole  shore  line  from  Mathes',orCrummett's 
Creek,  to  Lamprey  River  was  known  as  Lubberland. 

The  condition  of  Luberland  is  such:  we  had  a  good  Garrison  last  summer 
but  was  cut  down  and  Burnt,  and  for  want  of  a  Garrison  the  Inhabitants  are 
forced  to  leave  the  place  and  flie  for  Refugg.  If  itt  were  possible  to  save 
the  place  wee  who  know  the  vallue  vallues  itt  at  about  four  hundred  pounds 
of  provisions  and  movables:  provided  the  cattle  Breaks  in  y«  Corn,  itt  will  be 
much  damage.  It  is  y  generall  vote  y*  Capt.  Matthews  should  comd  the 
Garrison.     Our  request  is  for  15  or  20  souldiers  to  assist  this  place. 

Belongingto  the  place,  Betwixt  Capt  Matthews  and  Lamp  .  .  .  River, 
the  contents  as  follows: 

Capt.  Mathews  Wm  Durgin  and  three  sons. 

Fran:  Mathews  Tho.  Morris 

Jou  Benicke  [Bennett]  Jon  Piner  [Pinder] 

Jon  Doe  Hen.  Marsh 

Samson  Doe  David  Davis 

Elias  Critchett  Abra  Benicke  [Bennett] 

Jo°  Cromwell  [Crommett] 
[N.  H.  Prov.  Papers,  II,  147.]  Jen  Cromwell  [Crommett] 

Now  we  may  follow  the  other  party  of  Indians  in  their  work  of 
slaughter  and  burning  on  the  north  side  of  the  river.  Remember 
that  all  this  savagery  was  justified  under  the  name  of  war  between 
Christian  nations  and  their  allies  and  was  about  as  civilized  and 
"glorious"  as  any  wars  have  been  till  within  recent  years.     We 

7 


98  HISTORY   OF   DURHAM 

do  not  tomahawk  and  burn  enemies  now;  we  blow  them  to  pieces 
with  shells  and  bombs. 

In  the  Jones  family  the  tradition  has  been  preserved  that 
Ensign  Stephen  Jones  "in  the  night  heard  the  barking  of  dogs 
and  thought  the  wolves  were  about.  He  got  up  and  went  some 
distance  from  the  house  to  take  care  of  swine.  Returning  he 
went  into  a  flanker,  got  on  the  top  of  it  and  sat  there  with  his 
legs  hanging  down  on  the  outside.  An  Indian  fired  at  him;  he 
fell  back,  and  the  bullet  entered  the  flanker  betwixt  where  his 
legs  hung.  A  band  of  Indians  from  behind  a  rock  a  few  rods 
from  the  garrison  kept  firing  on  the  house."  The  inhabitants  of 
ungarrisoned  houses  in  that  vicinity  fled  to  Jones'  garrison. 
Some  were  killed  in  the  attempt,  among  them  a  woman  named 
Chesley.  Tradition  says  that  Hester  Chesley,  who  married  John 
Hall,  escaped  by  jumping  from  an  upper  window,  with  a  babe 
in  her  arms.  One  account  says  that  five  by  the  name  of  Chesley 
were  shot,  but  these  may  have  been  killed  in  subsequent  raids, 
tradition  not  being  careful  as  to  chronology.  Robert  Watson, 
who  lived  about  a  quarter  of  a  mile  away  on  land  he  bought  of 
Walter  Jackson,  was  killed  with  others  of  his  family.  His  wife, 
whose  maiden  name  was  Hannah  Kent,  returned  from  captivity 
and  married  Dea.  John  Ambler.  Accompanying  the  inventory 
of  her  first  husband's  estate  are  items  of  expense,  among  which 
are  twenty  pounds  "for  my  ransom  "and  two  pounds".to  a  french- 
man who  promised  to  redeem  my  son  therwith,"  "besides 
Cloathing  my  self  when  I  came  naked  out  of  Captivity." 

In  connection  with  this  the  following  information,  found  in  the 
records  of  Canada,  is  of  interest.  On  the  8th  of  April  1697, 
there  was  baptized,  "sous  condition,"  an  Englishman  named 
Joseph  Houatson,  aged  17.  On  3  June  1 715,  the  curate  of 
Boncherville  baptized  Marie  Josef  Robert  Ouetsen,  daughter  of 
Joseph  Robert  Ouetsen  and  Marie  de  Mers.  On  the  nth  of 
April  1 71 7,  J.  R.  Ouatsenne.son  of  Robert  Ouatsenneand  of  Anne 
hesemenne  (?)  an  Englishman  of  the  village  of  Piscataqua  was 
married  to  Angclique  Benard  Carignan.  Here  we  may  have  a 
clue  as  to  who  was  the  first  wife  of  Robert  Watson  of  Oyster 
River,  and  we  learn  that  Robert's  son,  Joseph,  married  and 
remained  in  Canada. 

The  wife  of  Edward   Leathers  was  killed  and  some  of  her 


HISTORY    OF   DURHAM  99 

children.     A  woman  named  Jackson  was  slain,  perhaps  Ann,  wife 
of  Walter  Jackson. 

Edward  Small  found  refuge  in  Jones'  garrison.  He  married 
Mary,  daughter  of  Capt.  John  Woodman,  and  soon  after  this 
massacre  removed  to  Monomoit,  now  Chatham,  Mass.  The 
following  letter  is  of  historic  interest: 

'Son  Edward  and  daughter  mery  Smalle:  A  store  of  Love  to  you:  by  thes 
you  may  knowe  that  I  received  yours  and  that  we  ar  not  without  feres  of 
further  trobeles  by  the  Indons :  by  Reson  there  of:  I  cannot  yet  aduyss  you :  to 
macke  Anny  preparation:  Horn  ward:  until  wee  heve  further  proued:  thayr 
keeping  of  the  peace:  Lest  your  Returen  should  be  so  unsesonebl  that  it  might 
be  As  much  dameg  to  you:  as  your  Remouing  thether:  thay  haue  not  as  yet: 
yousd  anny  Hostilety:  tourds  ye  Englesh  I  have  sent  you  A  thousend  of  good 
bords  by  William  Eldrege  your  brother  Jonathan  cannot  yet  sell  your  Hors: 
any  thing  Lick  to  the  worth  of  Him:  senc  His  order  to  sell  Him  wee  ar  all  in 
Resonebel  good  Halth  threw  gods  marsy :  your  brothers  and  sisters  Remember 
thayer  Loues  to  you: 

from  your  Louing  father 

John  Woodman 


Oyster  River 
July  26:  1700 


This  for  Edward 
Smalle  at  monamey 


Mrs.  Judith  (Davis)  Emerson  was  taken  and  held  in  captivity 
several  years.  Tradition  says  that  her  aged  mother,  whose 
maiden  name  was  Jane  Peasley  of  Haverhill,  Mass.,  was  captured 
and  dismissed  by  one  band  of  Indians.  She  hid  in  a  field  of  corn 
and  another  band  discovered  and  slew  her.  Among  the  captives 
remaining  in  the  hands  of  the  Indians,  17  January  1698/9,  was 
Judah  [Judith]  Emerson.  See  Coll.  of  Maine  Historical  Society, 
2d  Series,  Vol.  V,  p.  516. 

The  tradition  is  still  told  in  Durham  that  Judith  Emerson  was 
redeemed  from  captivity  by  a  Mr.  Morrill  for  two  shirts,  one  of 
which  he  took  from  his  back.  Samuel  Emerson,  thinking  his  wife 
was  dead,  went  to  Portsmouth  to  complete  arrangements  for  a 
second  marriage.  There  he  met  an  old  acquaintance  and  told  him 
his  designs.  The  acquaintance,  knowing  that  some  captives  had 
just  arrived  from  Canada  and  that  Mr.  Emerson's  wife  was 
among  them,  said,  "  I  bet  a  double  drink  of  grog  your  wife  is  in 

1  In  1889  Mr.  Lucien  Thompson  learned  of  the  existence  of  the  original  letter  in  the  pos- 
session of  Mrs.  M.  A.  Sanborn  of  Barnstead.  Her  grandfather  was  Samuel  Pitman  of  Durham, 
who  married  Sarah,  daughter  of  Edward  Small,  and  removed  to  Barnstead.  Mr.  Thompson 
had  the  letter  photographed  and  has  presented  a  copy  of  it  to  the  N.   H.   Historical  Society. 


100  HISTORY   OF   DURHAM 

town."  The  bet  was  taken,  whereupon  Mr.  Emerson  was  con- 
ducted into  the  presence  of  his  wife.  It  is  needless  to  say  that 
the  second  marriage  was  indefinitely  postponed,  and  it  faded 
into  a  traditionary  possibility.  The  Emerson  family  were  living 
at  this  time  at  Back  River,  Dover. 

Old  Mr.  Robert  Huckins,  many  of  whose  family  had  been  slain 
in  the  massacre  of  1689,  was  killed  at  this  time.  The  Jones 
garrison  was  burned  before  1732. 

Below  Jones'  garrison  were  those  of  Bunker,  Smith  and  Davis, 
all  of  which  were  successfully  defended.  Lieut.  James  Davis 
sent  his  family  away  by  water  and  with  the  help  of  his  brother, 
Serg.  Joseph  Davis,  defended  his  garrison,  extinguishing  the  fire 
applied  to  it.  Sergt.  Davis  was  fired  upon  by  three  Indians. 
He  stooped  and  a  bullet  split  a  sappling  just  above  his  head. 
He  shot  an  Indian,  whose  bones  were  found  in  a  swamp  soon  after. 

The  Meader  garrison  was  abandoned  and  was  burned.  The 
family  escaped  by  boat.  Near  by  a  man  named  Clark  was  shot 
and  another  man  named  Gellison,  while  he  was  going  from  one 
house  to  another  for  powder.  A  brother  of  the  latter  jumped 
into  a  well  for  safety  and  was  unable  to  get  out.  He  died  next 
day  soon  after  having  been  rescued  from  his  hiding  place. 

Three  Indians  were  sent  to  attack  the  house  of  William  Tasker, 
at  the  foot  of  Moharimet's  Hill  in  what  is  now  Madbury.  An 
Indian  looked  into  a  small  window  and  inquired  if  it  was  not  time 
for  them  to  get  up.  Mr.  Tasker  replied  with  a  shot  from  his 
gun  which  mortally  wounded  the  Indian,  who  with  bitter  screeches 
was  carried  off  by  the  other  two.  The  family  immediately  fled 
through  the  woods  to  the  Woodman  garrison. 

Probate  Records  inform  us  of  another  family  broken  up  at  this 
time,  not  mentioned  in  any  of  the  traditional  accounts.  It  was 
that  of  John  Derry,  who  lived  near  WTilliam  Tasker,  in  Madbury. 
Administration  on  his  estate  was  granted,  18  May  1698,  to  his 
widow,  Deliverance,  who  married  Nathaniel  Pitman  before  7 
January  1698.  Her  petition  of  the  latter  date  "humbly  showeth, 
that  in  the  years  1694  yor  petition"  House  was  burnt  by  the 
Indians  and  our  cattle  killed,  as  also  most  of  our  children;  my 
husband,  oi-e  child,  and  yor  Petition1  taken  Captives,  in  which 
Captivitye  my  husband  dyed;  none  but  your  Petition1  returned." 
The  child  was  Joseph  Derry,  and  what  became  of  him  is  not 
known.     John  Derry's  name  is  among  the  list  of  captives  returned 


HISTORY    OF   DURHAM  IOI 

17  January  1698/9,  but  this  may  be  an  error,  since  there  is  no 
subsequent  mention  of  him. 

Both  parties  of  Indians  met  at  the  Falls  after  their  raids  on  the 
south  and  north  sides  of  the  river  and  made  an  attack  on  the 
garrison  of  Capt.  John  Woodman,  which  resisted  the  attack  and 
remained,  with  bullets  in  its  timbers,  till  1896,  situated  at  the 
head  of  Beard's  Creek. 

The  following  letter,  dated  21  July  1694,  adds  some  historical 
touches  to  the  picture.  It  tells  us  who  the  Indian  was  that  got 
drunk  on  "occapee,"  at  the  suggestion  of  Mrs.  Dean.  Mass  was 
said  by  each  of  the  two  priests,  who  accompanied  this  expedition, 
just  as  Chaplains  went  with  British  and  American  regiments, 
and  for  a  similar  purpose.  We  may  suppose  they  did  what  they 
could  to  prevent  cruelty  and  to  soften  the  ferocity  of  savages. 
We  know  on  good  evidence  that  some  Roman  Catholic  priests 
and  missionaries  among  the  Indians  in  Maine  were  kind  to  cap- 
tives, bought  them  out  of  slavery,  and  secured  their  release. 
The  place  where  mass  was  said  is  thought,  by  Miss  Mary  P. 
Thompson,  and  with  good  reason,  to  have  been  on  a  ledgy  hill- 
top, not  far  from  the  Woodman  garrison.  The  tradition  that 
the  priests  made  chalk-marks  on  the  pulpit  of  Parson  Buss' 
church  is  interpreted  by  her  as  the  writing  of  some  verse  from 
Holy  Writ  or  from  the  Credo.  The  fact  that  the  meeting  house 
was  not  burned  during  this  raid  is  evidence  that  they  had  some 
respect  for  the  place. 

To  Gov.  Phipps, 

May  it  pies  yor  Excell. 

Since  the  Lft  Govern"  of  18th  inst  anoth'iscome  to  our  hand.  The  Indians 
verie  numerous.  Not  less  than  three  hundred.  Douie  who  signed  the  Peace 
was  there,  a  woman  who  was  Douies  servant  made  her  escape,  by  reason  of  his 
being  drunck.  Saith  Douie  did  tell  her  that  they  did  expect  600  Indians  more, 
that  the  Mangwaits  were  joined  with  them,  and  judge  some  Southern  Indians 
were  there.  There  is  two  Fryars  among  the  Indians  who  after  victory  said 
Mass  twice,  the  Indians  did  spred  6  or  7  miles  and  engaged  all  at  once.  Oyster 
River  in  a  manner  Ruined,  only  about  20  houses  left,  the  rest  layd  waste. 
Unless  we  have  a  supply  of  men  from  yourself  Oyster  River  must  be  de- 
serted. If  Oyster  River  be  deserted,  the  Enimie  will  have  an  inlett  to  the 
whole  Country,  for  the  Majest8  Service  and  Security  of  the  Country  desire 
you  would  forthwith  Supply  us  with  one  hundred  men,  with  ammunition  & 
Provision  to  be  posted  for  preservation  of  these  Out  places.  We  are  dis- 
patching some  souldiers  into  our  Outward  garrisons,  according  to  the  ability 
of  this  Province  upon  the  alarms  with  all  expedition.  We  dispatched  from 
the  Severall  Towns  one  third  of  the  Militia  in  this  Province  for  Releafe  of 


102  HISTORY   OF    DURHAM 

Oyster  River,  but  before  they  came  here  the  Enimie  was  drawn  of  and 
could  not  be  met  with;  its  judged  Eighty  persons  killed  &  taken,  abund- 
ance of  cattle  killed.  Last  night  three  Indians  seen,  severall  Guns  fired. 
Judge  the  Enimie  is  still  bordering  upon  us,  but  we  want  assistance  to  pur- 
sue them,  the  Enimie  being  so  numerous.  Desire  that  orders  may  be 
given  to  Justices  and  all  Constables  for  the  Dispatch  of  Expresses.  Not 
doubting  of  yo'  Rediness  to  assist  us,  we  being  ready  to  afforde  our  assist- 
ance, according  to  our  ability,  to  your  parts  in  case  the  Enimie  should  invade 
yours, 

\Yc  crave  your  answer  by  this — ers. 

By  order  of  the  Lt.  Govern'  &  Councill 
Wm.  Redford:  Dept.  Secry. 

[N.  H.  Province  Papers,  II,  p.  129] 

To  sum  up  the  results  of  this  Indian  raid,  it  may  be  positively 
stated  that  the  houses  of  the  following  persons  were  burned,  three 
of  them  being  garrisons,  viz.,  house  owned  by  Nathaniel  Hill  and 
occupied  by  John  Dean  (The  houses  of  Nathaniel  Hill  and 
Bartholomew  Stevenson  near  by  were  not  destroyed),  houses 
of  Ensign  John  Davis,  Ezekiel  Pitman,  Stephen  Jenkins,  Rev. 
John  Buss,  Charles  Adams,  Thomas  Edgerly,  Joseph  Meader, 
Robert  Watson,  John  Derry,  William  Leathers,  John  Drew, 
William  Jackson,  and  probably  houses  of  the  Chesley,  Steven- 
son, and  Willey  families.  Thus  we  have  the  sixteen  houses 
and  garrisons  mentioned  by  the  Rev.  John  Pike  in  his  Journal. 

Among  the  slain  were  John  Dean,  Robert  Huckins,  Robert 
Watson  and  two  or  more  children,  the  mother  of  Mrs.  Judith 
Emerson  (who  was  Jane  Peasley  Davis),  sister  of  Mrs.  Emerson, 
Ensign  John  Davis,  wife  and  two  children,  Widow  James  Smith 
and  two  sons,  a  Mr.  (Abraham?)  Clark,  two  men  named  Gellison, 
Stephen  Jenkins  and  child,  Francis  Drew  and  wife,  Lydia,  Ben- 
jamin Drew,  fifteen  in  the  family  of  Charles  Adams,  two  children 
of  Thomas  Edgerly,  Jr.,  grandmother  of  Stephen  Jenkins, 
Mrs.  Edward  Leathers,  Mrs.  Jackson,  Zacheriah  Edgerly,  several 
children  of  John  Derry,  and  probably  Thomas  and  Joseph 
Stevenson  and  John  Rand  and  wife,  Remembrance.  Thus 
forty-nine  or  more  are  known. 

Among  those  carried  into  captivity  were  certainly  John  Derry 
and  his  wife  and  son,  Joseph,  Hannah  Watson  and  her  son, 
Joseph,  Sarah  Davis  and  her  sister,  Mary,  Ursula  Adams,  Mrs. 
Ann  Jenkins,  Thomas  Drew  and  wife,  Tamsen,  Abigail  and  Judy 
and  Elizabeth  Willey,  Elizabeth  and  Susanna  and  Joseph  Edgerly, 
Mrs.  Judith  Emerson,  Peter  Denbow  and  Remembrance  Rand, 


HISTORY    OF   DURHAM  IO3 

making  twenty  known  captives.  Thus  sixty-nine  or  more  out  of 
the  ninety-four  reported  by  the  Rev.  John  Pike  are  accounted  for. 
There  were  probably  some  captives,  unknown  by  name,  who 
never  returned. 

Twenty  soldiers  were  sent  to  defend  garrisons  at  Oyster  River, 
and  Capt.  John  Woodman  reported,  6  January  1695/6,  that  they 
were  posted  as  follows:  at  his  own  garrison,  2;  at  Meader's,  3;  at 
Davis',  2;  at  Smith's,  3;  at  Burnham's,  2;  at  Bickford's,  4;  at 
Edgerly's  [where  John  Rand  had  formerly  lived],  3;  at  Durgin's, 
2;  at  Jones',  2;  at  David  Davis',  2. 

In  his  fourth  return,  5  February  1695/6,  he  reports  soldiers 
posted  as  follows:  at  Meader's,  2;  at  Smith's,  1;  at  Bunker's,  3; 
at  Jones',  2 ;  at  Burnham's,  2 ;  at  Edgerly's,  2 ;  at  David  Davis',  2. 

The  account  of  Oyster  River  people  for  their  maintenance  of 
soldiers  from  24  May  1697,  unto  4  October  1697,  was  rendered 
by  Capt.  John  Woodman  as  follows: 

Joseph  Smith  for  2  soldiers,  18  weeks,07:o4:oo;  James  Bunckerfor  1  soldier, 
1 8  weeks,  03:12:00;  Ensign  Jones  for  1  soldier,  18  weeks,  03:i2:oo;Mr.Thomas 
Edgerly,  1  soldier,  18  weeks,  03:12:00;  John  Woodman,  2  soldiers,  18  weeks. 
07:04:00.     [See  N.  H.  Province  Papers,  II,  253.] 

The  Indians  seem  to  have  had  a  special  spite  against  the 
inhabitants  of  Oyster  River,  or  their  attacks  there  were  so  little 
opposed  that  they  returned  often  for  easy  spoils.  We  are 
indebted  to  Pike's  Journal  for  the  following  brief  items  of  subse- 
quent molestations: 

August  27,  1696,  "David  Davis  killed  by  the  Indns  at  Lubber- 
land." 

November  15,  1697,  "Tho:  Chesley  Sen:  slain  by  ye  Indians 
not  far  from  Johnsons  Creek.  Will  Jackson  taken  at  the  same 
time  &  at  same  time  made  his  escape." 

April  25,  1704,  "Nath.  Meader  was  slain  by  ye  Indians  at 
Oyster  River,  not  far  from  the  place  where  Nicholas  Follet  form- 
erly lived." 

June  1,  1704,  "Samuel  Tasker  was  slain  by  8  or  9  Indians  at 
Oyster  River." 

August  19,  1704.  "Joseph  Pitman  slain  by  the  Indians,  as  he 
was  guarding  some  mowers,  not  far  from  Oyster  River  Meeting- 
house." 

November  4,  1705,  "Sab.  Nath  Tibbetts  of  Oyster  River  was 
carried  away  by  the  Indians  about  sun-set." 


104  HISTORY    OF   DURHAM 

April  27,  1706,  "The  Indians  came  in  upon  the  south  part  of 
Oyster  River,  by  the  Little  Bay,  &  killed  ten  persons,  the  chief 
whereof  were  bro:  John  Wheeler  &  his  wife,  John  Drew,  etc. 
Tis  thought  this  was  done  by  Bommazeen."  Belknap  says  that 
two  children  of  John  Wheeler  were  slain  and  four  sons  escaped 
by  taking  refuge  in  a  cave  by  the  bank  of  the  Little  Bay. 

May  22,  1707,  "Two  young  girls  were  carried  away  by  the 
Indians  from  Bunkers  Garrison  at  Oyster  River,  viz.  the  daughter 
of  Thomas  Drew  (near  13  years  old)  &  Daughter  of  Nath1 
Laimos  (Much  younger).  This  was  the  first  mischief  done  by 
them  in  ye  year  1707."  Marie  Anne  was  baptized  in  Canada, 
12  September  1709,  as  daughter  of  Thomas  and  Mary  (Bunker) 
Drew,  and  she  was  naturalized  there  25  June  17 13.  Elizabeth 
Lomax  was  baptized  in  Canada,  11  September  1707,  as  daughter 
of  Nathaniel  and  Deliverance  (Clark)  Lomax.  Thus  the  two 
little  lost  girls  are  found,  and  we  learn  incidentally  who  their 
mothers  were. 

July  8,  1707,  "John  Bunker  &  Ichabod  Rawlins  (both  of  Dover) 
going  with  a  cart  from  Zech:  Fields  Gar:  to  James  Bunkers  for  a 
Loom  were  assailed  by  many  Indians  &  both  slain.  The  enemy 
(supposed  20  or  30  in  num.)  slaughtered  many  cattel  for  the 
Jones's  (at  same  time)  to  the  number  of  15  or  more." 

September  17,  1707,  "Capt.  Samuel  Chesley,  his  bro:  James 
Chesley  &  6  more  stout  young  men  were  slain  by  the  Indians  as 
they  were  cutting  and  hailing  timber,  not  far  from  Capt.  Chesleys 
house.  The  Indian  >rt  killed  James  Chesley  was  slain  on  ye  spot 
by  Rob:  Thompson.  Philip  Chesley  and  3  more  escaped." 
The  Council  voted,  22  October  1707,  that  five  pounds  be  given  to 
Robert  Thompson,  and  the  Governor  signed  an  act  in  these 
words,  "ordered  that  Robert  Thompson1  be  paid  five  pounds  out 
of  the  present  tax  for  an  Indian  scalp  lately  taken  by  him  at 
Oyster  River,"  10  May  1708. 

September  18,  1708,  "David  Kinked  of  Oyster  River  was 
assaulted  by  3  Indians  at  his  house,  some  considerable  distance 
from  Woodmans  Gar:  Three  Guns  were  fired  at  him  and  his  Lad, 
but  (through  mercy)  both  escaped  well." 

June  30,  1709,  "Bartholomew  Stimpson  Jun:  of  Oyster  R.  was 
Slain  by  an  Ambuscade  of  Indians  near  Capt.  Woodmans  Gar." 

The  Rev.  Hugh  Adams  records  that  "on  Friday  the  first  day 

lGreat,  great,  great-grandfather  of  Col.  Lucien  Thompson. 


HISTORY    OF   DURHAM  105 

of  May  1724,  our  worthy  &  Desireable  Elder  James  Nock  was  most 
surprisingly  Shott  (off  from  his  horse)  Dead  and  Scalped  by 
three  Indian  Enemies.  0  that  Christ  Emmanuel  may  speedily 
avenge  his  blood  upon  them."  This  sounds  like  an  imprecatory 
Psalm  and  shows  that  in  all  ages  good  men  feel  the  demands  of 
retributive  justice.  He  adds,  "June  17,  1722,  On  Wednesday, 
it  being  our  Preparation  Lecture, — Turned  into  a  Fast  on  account 
of  the  Indian  War,  so  severe  on  our  Church  by  the  sudden  Death 
of  another  of  our  Members,  that  was  slain  the  last  Wednesday, 
Namely  Moses  Davis,  Senr  &  his  son  Moses.  And  in  the  evening 
by  the  Indians  was  killed  by  a  Shott  in  his  head  Poor  George 
Chesley  &  Elizabeth  Burnam  was  wounded."  She  died  four  days 
later,  as  the  following  record,  dated  27  May  1724,  shows,  "Eliza- 
beth Burnam  who  was  wounded  by  the  Indians  the  24th,  the 
day  George  Chesley  was  killed,  the  evening  before  she  died  I 
baptized  at  her  penitent  request."  Miss  Mary  P.  Thompson,  in 
her  Landmarks  in  Ancient  Dover,  rather  discredits  the  tradition 
that  this  George  Chesley  was  engaged  to  be  married  to  Elizabeth 
Burnham  and  conjectures  that  he  must  have  been  forty-five  years 
of  age,  but  the  church  records  state  that  "George  Chesley, 
batchelor,"  was  baptized  24  December  1721,  about  two  years 
and  a  half  before  this  event,  so  that  the  tradition  of  their  engage- 
ment might  be  well  founded.  He  must  not  be  confused  with  an 
earlier  George  Chesley,  who  was  killed  by  Indians  on  his  way  to 
mill,  8  June  17 10,  leaving  widow,  Deliverance. 

The  Rev.  Hugh  Adams  says  in  a  petition  that  "five  persons  in 
Oyster  River  were  cut  down  in  the  Indian  war  that  begun  in  1722. 

Miss  Thompson  tells  of  another  "young  Chesley"  who  was 
returning  from  meeting  with  a  Miss  Randall  of  Lee,  when  they 
were  slain  upon  the  Mast  Road.  The  rock  on  which  the  maiden 
fell  is  said  to  be  stained  with  blood  "unto  this  day,"  and  some 
poet  has  lamented  her  fate.  This  seems  to  be  a  variant  of  the 
tradition  recorded  in  Historical  Memoranda  of  Ancient  Dover, 
page  85.  The  Thomas  Chesley  there  mentioned  may  well  have 
been  the  Thomas  Chesley,  junior,  born  1688.  See  Genealogical 
Notes  under  Chesley  and  Randall,  where  it  appears  that  there 
was  no  Miss  Randall  of  Lee  at  the  time  mentioned  and  that  all 
subsequent  Miss  Randalls  of  Lee  are  accounted  for.  The  tradi- 
tion is  that  Miss  Randall  was  returning  from  the  Falls  with  a 
party  of  friends,  when  they  were  attacked  by  Indians.     She  tried 


106  HISTORY   OF   DURHAM 

to  escape  into  a  barn  and  was  shot  just  as  she  was  entering  it. 
She  fell  across  the  stone  at  the  door  and  there  bled  to  death. 
Mr.  Chesley  was  greatly  grieved  at  her  death  and  declared  that 
he  would  spend  his  life  in  fighting  the  savages.  He  soon  had  an 
opportunity  to  kill  eleven  out  of  a  bunch  of  twelve,  and  the 
tradition  properly  closes  with  the  statement  that  he  himself  was 
afterward  killed  by  Indians.  So  many  members  of  the  Chesley 
family  met  their  fate  in  this  way,  that  it  is  not  surprising  that 
some  conflicting  reports  have  come  down. 

To  this  list  of  the  slain  may  be  added  the  name  of  Jeremiah 
Crommett,  who  was  killed  and  scalped  by  Indians,  in  1712, 
at  the  upper  branch  of  Oyster  River.     See  Genealogical   Notes. 


MILITARY   HISTORY. 

This  chapter  can  contain  but  little  more  than  the  names  of  the 
citizens  of  Oyster  River,  or  Durham,  that  served  in  various  wars 
that  afflicted  the  colonies,  after  the  Indian  depredations  already 
described.  Every  able-bodied  man  was  enrolled  in  the  militia, 
and  doubtless  many  served  in  active  campaigns  whose  names 
are  unrecorded.  The  New  Hampshire  Province  and  State 
Papers  are  the  sources  from  which  the  following  names  have  been 
gleaned. 

May  io,  1 710,  the  report,  to  the  General  Assembly,  of  the 
committee  on  claims  allowed  five  pounds  to  Robert  Thompson 
for  killing  an  Indian  and  endorsed  the  accounts  of  George  Chesley, 
and  Captains  Abraham  Bennick,  James  Davis,  and  Nathaniel 
Hill. 

There  is  an  interesting  claim  for  "several  persons  under  named 
for  their  snow  shoes  and  mogasans  which  were  imprest  for  her 
Majtys  service  by  Capt.  James  Davis,  by  order  of  Col.  Hilton." 
These  marched  to  the  eastward,  to  "Picwacket  and  Mariwock," 
and  none  of  the  snowshoes  were  returned: 

Serg.  Jonathan  Woodman  Abraham  Bennet 

John  Ambler  James  Durgin 

Joseph  Smith  Mr.  Thomas  Edgerly 

Left.  John  Smith  Thomas  Drew 

Jeremiah  Burnam  Philip  Chesle 

En.  Francis  Mathes  Capt.  James  Davis 

En.  Stephen  Jones  Samuel  Waymouth 

William  Jacson  John  Cromet 

Lt.  Samuel  Edgerly  John  Williams 

Ensign  Mathews'  muster  roll  was  allowed  19  November 
1 71 2.     The  amount  was  £2  514  d<\. 

The  following  appear  on  the  roll  of  a  scouting  party,  under 
command  of  Capt.  James  Davis,  in  17 12.  Capt.  Davis  served 
twenty-one  weeks;  the  men  here  named,  selected  from  the  rolls 
and  arranged  alphabetically,  served  ten  days  and  their  wages 
were  eight  shillings  and  six  pence  apiece.  The  men  from  Oyster 
River  were  "John  Ambler,  Jeremiah  Burnham,  Robert  Burn- 
ham,  Eliezer  Clark,  Timothy  Conner,  John  Chesley,  Jonathan 
Chesley,    James    Davis,    Moses    Davis,    John    Davis,  Timothy 

107 


108  HISTORY    OF    DURHAM 

Davis,  Sampson  Doe,  Thomas  Drew,  Jr.,  William  Drew,  Joseph 
Dudey,  Cornelius  Drisco,  Eli  Demerrit,  Ichabod  ffollit,  John 
Footman,  John  Kent,  Benjamin  Mathews,  Benjamin  Pinner, 
William  Pitman,  John  Rand,  Thomas  Rynes,  Thomas  Stephen- 
son, John  Tasker,  Jonathan  Thompson,  Robert  Thompson, 
Samuel  Wille,  and  Samuel  Williams." 

Salathiel  Denbow,  called  also  Denmore,  served  in  the  French 
and  Indian  War  and  had  his  thigh  broken  and  skull  fractured  at 
Spanish  River,  Cape  Breton.  In  response  to  his  petition  he  was 
granted  ten  pounds,  18  January  1 716/7,  and  a  pension  of  ten 
pounds  was  granted  him,  1  December  1730. 

The  account  of  Sergt.  James  Nock's  muster  roll  was  allowed 
in  1723.  He  was  deacon  in  the  church  at  Oyster  River  and  soon 
after  was  killed  by  Indians. 

June  24,  1724,  Robert  Burnham  was  admitted  into  the  Coun- 
cil Chamber  and  presented  an  Indian  scalp  to  the  board  and 
made  oath  that  it  was  bona  fide  the  scalp  of  an  Indian  slain  two 
days  before  at  Oyster  River  by  a  party  of  men  under  the  com- 
mand of  Mr.  Abraham  Bennick,  and  that  he  believed  the  said 
Indian  was  an  Indian  enemy,  etc.  Whereupon,  it  was  ordered 
that  pursuant  to  act  of  General  Assembly  the  slayer  be  paid  one 
hundred  pounds  out  of  the  treasury  and  that  the  clerk  further 
prepare  a  warrant  accordingly,  the  said  sum  being  made  payable 
to  Capt.  Francis  Mathews  at  the  request  and  on  the  account  of 
the  said  slayers.     N.  H.  Province  Papers,  IV,  140. 

The  manuscript  of  Rev.  Hugh  Adams  says  that  10  June  1724, 
occurred  "the  smiting  of  four  Indians  and  getting  the  Scalp  of 
a  Chief  Captain  among  them,  who  was  by  all  circumstances  of 
his  learning  in  his  writings  of  Devotion  and  lists  of  names  of 
nine  score  Indians  found  in  his  minuta  which  I  saw,  and  his 
Scarlet-Died,  Four-Laureate  Coronet,  with  a  Tassel  of  four 
small  bells,  by  the  small  tinkling  whereof  in  the  thickets  of 
bushes  his  Indian  souldiers  might  follow  him,"  etc.  Adams 
conjectures  he  must  have  been  a  son  of  Sebastian  Rasle,  an 
unwarranted  conclusion. 

Abraham  Clark's  Scouting  party,  July  1724,  contains  the  names 
of  John  Bunker,  James  Davis,  John  Brown,  Clement  Drew, 
William  Clay,  Nathaniel  Denbo,  Joseph  Perkins,  William 
Raines  and  Samuel  Williams. 


HISTORY    OF   DURHAM  I09 

This  copy  of  Capt.  Samuel  Emerson's  commission  will  serve 
as  a  sample  of  those  issued  at  that  time : 

Samuel  Shute  Esq.:  Captaine  General  and  Governour  in  chief,  in  and  over 
His  Majesty's  Province  of  New  Hampshire  in  New  England,  and  Vice 
Admiral  of  the  same. 
To  Captain  Samuel  Emerson — Greeting: 

By  Virtue  of  the  Power  and  Authority  in  and  by  His  Majesty's  Royal 
Commission  to  Me  Granted,  to  be  Captain  General  &c,  over  this  His  Majesty's 
Province  of  New  Hampshire  aforesaid.  I  do  (by  these  Presents,)  Reposeing 
especial  trust  and  confidence,  in  your  Loyalty,  Courage  and  good  Conduct, 
Constitute  and  Appoint  you  the  said  Sam'  Emerson  to  be  a  Capt.  of  a  foot 
Company  of  the  north  side  of  Oyster  river  in  Dover  in  y»  regment  whereof 
Richd  Waldron  Esq  is  Colonel.  You  are  therefore  carefully  and  diligently, 
to  discharge  the  Duty  of  a  Captain  in  Leading  and  Ordering  and  Exercising, 
said  Company  in  Arms,  both  Inferior  Officers  and  Soldiers,  and  to  keep  them 
in  good  Order  and  Discipline,  hereby  commanding  them  to  Obey  you,  as  their 
Captain  and  yourself  to  observe  and  follow  such  Orders  and  Instructions,  as 
you  shall  from  time  to  time  receive  from  Me,  or  the  Commander  in  Chief  for 
the  time  being,  or  other  your  Superior  Officers,  for  His  Majesty's  Service,  ac- 
cording to  Military  Rules  and  Discipline;  Pursuant  to  the  Trust  reposed  in  you. 

Given  under  my  Hand  and  Seal  at  Portsmouth  the  Twelfth  day  of  May  in 
the  fourth  Year  of  His  Majesty  King  George  His  Reign. 
Annoque  Domini  1718 
By  His  Excellency's  Command 

Saml   Shute. 
Richd   Waldron,  Clercon. 

The  following  list  of  trained  soldiers  on  the  south  side  of  Oyster 
River,  dated  5  May  1732,  only  ten  days  before  Durham  was 
incorporated  as  a  town,  was  furnished  by  the  late  Ballard  Smith 
about  sixty  years  ago,  for  publication  in  the  Dover  Inquirer. 
The  original  paper  was  then  in  his  possession.  It  was  the  third 
company  in  Col.  Gilman's  regiment  and  was  under  the  command 
of  Capt.  John  Smith,  Jr.  The  names  are  here  arranged  alpha- 
betically for  convenience. 

Abraham  Bennet  Solomon  Daveis 

Eleazer  Bennet  Joseph  Daveis  Jr. 

Eli  Clark  Benjamin  Daveis 

Joshua  Crumit  Samuel  Daveis 

Joseph  Chesly  Joshua  Daveis 

Thomas  Chesly  Salathiel  Denmore  Jr. 

Jabues  Daveis  Richard  Denmore 

Jeremiah  Daveis  Francis  Drew 

John  Daveis,  Jr.  John  Drew 

Ebenezer  Daveis  Thomas  Drew,  ye  third 


no 


HISTORY    OF    DURHAM 


Thomas  Drew  Jr. 
Eliphalet  Daniel 
Benjamin  Doo 
John  Doo 
Joseph  Doo 
Daniel  Doo 
Benjamin  Durgin 
John  Durgin 
James  Durgin 
Joseph  Durgin 
Jonathan  Durgin 
Francis  Footman 
John  Genkins, 
John  Jenkens  Jr. 
Stephen  Genkins  Jr. 
George  Gray 
John  Gra 
Robert  Kent 
John  Langley 
John  Laski 
Thomas  Langley 

The  above  list  may  be  compared  with  the  following  made  a 
few  years  later.  "A  list  of  all  the  Soldiery  that  be  under  my 
Command  from  sixteen  years  old  and  upward  as  the  law  directs." 
This,  too,  includes  only  those  living  on  the  south  side  of  Oyster 
River. 


Hezekias  Marsh 
Peter  Mason 
Nathaniel  Meader 
John  Moor 
Jeremiah  Pender 
John  Pitman 
William  Randal 
John  Randal 
John  Runls 
Benjamin  Smith 
James  Smith 
John  Smith  ye  third 
Samuel  Smith 
William  Sheperd 
Joseph  Thomas 
Stephen  Wille 
Theoder  Willey 
Joseph  Woodman 
Jacob  Wormwood 
Joseph  Wormwood. 


Sargt  Thomas  Stevenson 
Sarg  Samuel  Willey 
Sarg  John  Crummet 
Sarg  John  Edgerly 
Cor.  Joseph  Wormwood 
Cor.  Joseph  Davis 
Cor.  Joseph  Edgerly 
Cor.  John  Durgain 
John  Footman 
Joseph  Footman 
Samuel  Smith 
Benja  Smith 
Joseph  Chesly 
Ebenezer  Smith 
Benja  Pender 
Francis  Durgain 
Eliphalet  Daniel 
Reuben  Daniel 
John  Kent 


"John   Smith   Junr,    Capt." 

John  Kent  Jun. 
Abrahan  Mathews 
John  Drew 
Elijah  Drew 
Tho  Bickford 
Robert  Kent 
Tho  Langley 
William  Lord 
Stephen  Willey 
Benj*  Mathews 
Volintin  Mathews 
Abraham  Mathews  Jun. 
Joseph  Stevenson 
Abraham  Stevenson 
Caleb  Wakham 
Francis  Footman 
Daniel  Davis 
Tho  Footman  Jun. 
John  Genikins 


HISTORY   OF   DURHAM 


III 


Benja  Genikins 
Joseph  Smith 
Tho  Yorke 
Samue  Watson 
Joseph  Gleden 
Robert  Burnham  Jun. 
John  Burnham  Jun. 
Richard  Dunmore 
Benja  Davis 
Jabez  Davis 
Jeremiah  Davis 
John  Davis 
Solomon  Davis 
Ebenezer  Davis 
Samuel  Meeder 
James  Burnham 
Ichabod  Denmore 
Joseph  Bickford 
John  Langley 
Jobe  Langley 
Hezekiah  Marsh 
Will"  Willey 
John  Mason 
Daniel  Doo 
John  Doo 


Joseph  Doo 
Benj»  Doo 

Willm  Wormwood  Jun. 
Will »  J  neks 
Joshua  Crumet 
Abraham  Bennet  Jun. 
James  Durgain  Jun. 
Will™  Durgain 
Phillip  Crommet 
Benj»  Bennet 
Isac  Mason 
David  Davis, 
Samuel  Joy 
Joshua  Davis 
Joseph  Dudy 
Joseph  Dudy  Jun. 
Benmore  Dudy 
Tho  Willey 
Theodor  Willey 
James  Smith 
Joshua  Woodman 
John  Cretchet 
John  Willey 
James  Burnham  Jun 


A  true  copy  of  the  List  Roll  taken  ye  Last  Training  Day  and 
coppyed  out  July  ye  29th  1740.      Total  86. 

Joseph  Drew,  Clerk 
[N.  H.  Town  Papers,  IX,  240,  241.] 

A  scouting  party  under  Samuel  Miller,  from  29  June  to  13 
July  1744,  contains  the  following  men  from  Durham,  Abraham 
Runals,  Joseph  Durgin,  James  Lomas,  and  Thomas  Tash.  A 
muster  roll  of  troopers,  under  command  of  Capt.  Joseph  Hanson, 
dated  5  August  1745,  contains  the  names  of  men  from  Durham, 
who  scouted  in  the  woods  and  found  themselves  horses,  provisions 
and  ammunition,  viz.,  Samuel  Tasker,  Valentine  Mathes,  Samuel 
Demeritt,  Thomas  Willey,  Thomas  Leathers,  Henry  Hill,  and 
James  Chesley. 

The  principal  event  in  King  George's  War  was  the  capture  of 
Louisburg,  on  Cape  Breton  Island,  17  June  1745.  This  was, 
next  to  Quebec,  the  strongest  and  most  important  French  fortress 
in  America.  The  land  forces  in  this  expedition  were  commanded 
by  Col.  William  Pepperrell  of  Kittery,  who  was  knighted  for  the 


112  HISTORY   OF   DURHAM 

exploit.  Many  of  his  troops  were  collected  from  Maine  and 
New  Hampshire.  Col.  Samuel  Smith  of  Durham  was  a  member 
of  the  provincial  council  of  New  Hampshire  at  that  time  and  of 
the  joint  committee  "on  the  subject  of  Govr  Shirleys  letter  and 
some  other  papers  laid  before  the  Assembly  by  his  Excellency." 
This  committee  reported  in  favor  of  the  Louisburg  expedition 
and  recommended  the  raising  of  money  to  defray  charges  and 
liberal  pay  to  volunteers,  as  well  as  the  furnishing  of  provisions 
and  transports.  Col.  Smith  was  at  the  same  time  chairman  of 
the  board  of  selectmen  of  Durham,  town  clerk,  part  of  the  time 
moderator  and  also  the  chief  military  officer  in  the  vicinity.  As 
councillor  he  had  a  prominent  part  in  the  emission  of  money  to 
pay  the  expenses  of  the  expedition,  being  on  the  committee  to 
print  the  money  and  have  custody  of  the  plates  and  keys.  The 
provincial  records  show  that  he  was  clerk  and  commissary  of  the 
various  scouting  parties  in  his  vicinity  and  had  charge  of  the 
snowshoes  and  moccasins,  of  which  the  House  voted  that  one 
hundred  pairs  of  each  should  be  kept  in  Durham,  ready  for  any 
emergency. 

The  rolls  of  the  New  Hampshire  regiments  in  this  expedition 
have  not  been  found.  Hon.  George  A.  Gilmore,  as  special  com- 
missioner under  legislative  authority,  has  published  a  "Roll 
of  New  Hampshire  Men  at  Louisburg,  Cape  Breton,  1745," 
and  he  gave  the  residences  of  the  men  as  nearly  as  he  could  ascer- 
tain the  same.  Durham  is  given  as  the  residence  of  the  following 
men,  Benjamin  Bunker,  Eleazer  Bickford,  Eliphalet  Daniel,  and 
Moses  Meader. 

Benjamin  Bunker  was  clerk  of  Capt.  Samuel  Hale's  company, 
enlisting  as  a  private  13  February  1745,  and  was  promoted  to  be 
Ensign,  10  August. 

Eleazer  Bickford  petitioned  the  General  Assembly  for  some 
allowance  on  account  of  sickness,  losses,  etc.,  and  was  allowed  two 
pounds.  Daniel  Doe  at  the  same  time  was  allowed  two  pounds, 
ten  shillings,  because  of  medical  treatment  by  Dr.  Samuel  Adams 
after  his  return.  The  first  was  a  private  and  the  second  a  mari- 
ner, both  enlisting  13  February  1745.  Daniel  Doe  was  son  of 
John  Doe  and  lived  near  the  Moat. 

Moses  Meader  petitioned  for  relief  because  of  sickness  at 
Louisburg,  which  caused  his  return  to  New  Castle  in  August, 
where  he  was  confined  bv  sickness  for  three  weeks,  and  in  conse- 


HISTORY   OF    DURHAM  113 

quence  he  states  that  he  has  been  able  to  do  but  little  for  the  sup- 
port of  himself  and  family.  He  was  allowed  five  pounds,  though 
his  expenses  at  New  Castle  alone  had  been  over  ten  pounds. 

Col.  Gilmore  does  not  give  the  residencesof  many  of  the  soldiers, 
but  one  familiar  with  the  records  of  Durham  can  easily  pick  out 
the  following  names  of  Durham  men,  Abraham  Bennet,  Moses 
Davis,  Benjamin  Daniel,  John  Edgerly,  John  Ealet  [Eliot], 
Thomas  Jones,  Thomas  Johnson,  William  Lapish,  David  Kinkett 
[Kincaid],  John  Perry,  William  Randall,  James  Smith,  John  Smith, 
Corp.   Samuel  Thompson,  James  Thompson,  and  John  Welch. 

The  town  voted  to  exempt  from  taxes  for  that  year  those  who 
went  on  the  Louisburg  expedition. 

Scouting  parties  were  sent  out  during  the  winters  of  1744  and 
1745.  Capt.  Benjamin  Mathes  had  command  of  one,  11  Jan- 
uary 1745.  The  men  were  Joseph  Wormwood,  Gershom  Mathes, 
William  Emerson,  Abraham  Mathes,  James  Thompson,  Joseph 
Coleman,  John  Leighton,  Reuben  Heard  and  Samuel  Bickford. 
They  served  twenty-one  days  for  eighteen  shillings  and  nine 
pence  each. 

On  "the  muster  roll  of  eight  men  under  the  command  of  John 
Huggins  of  Durham  who  begun  July  ye  nth  1745  to  scout  in  ye 
woods  from  Rochester  to  Winnipissoke"  are  the  names  of  John 
Huggins,  Edward  Leathers,  Abel  Leathers,  James  Brown,  Moses 
Varney, Joseph  Langley,  Daniel  Hays, Charles  Bakerand  Ephraim 
Alley.  Some  of  these  men  lived  in  Dover.  They  served  fourteen 
days  for  twelve  shillings,  six  pence. 

Capt.  Jonathan  Chesley  had  command  of  another  party  of 
scouts  that  ranged  "the  frontiers  about  Merrimack"  in  1745. 
He  was  elected  Representative  and  served  in  the  House  during 
most  of  King  George's  War. 

"Seargeant  John  Thompson"  commanded  another  scouting 
party  of  eleven  men  around  Barrington  and  Rochester  twenty- 
eight  days  in  1746  and  earlier.  Four  times  money  was  voted 
to  him  and  his  men  for  such  services. 

December  2,  1747,  the  House  "voted  that  ye  Muster  Roll  of 
Joseph  Thomas  &  twenty  men  under  his  Command  scouting  from 
Durham  to  Chester,  Epsom  &  Nottingham,  amounting  to  twenty 
two  Pounds  fifteen  Shillings  &  oxl  in  full  be  allowed." 

Scouting  parties  were  commanded  also  by  Samuel  Randall 
and  Joseph  Sias.     More  will  be  said  of  these  men  elsewhere. 


114  HISTORY    OF    DURHAM 

Capt.  Jonathan  Chesley  was  paid  for  guarding  the  frontiers, 
in  1748,  with  seventy-three  men.  Other  men  who  served  in 
such  scouting  parties  were  Ephraim  Davis  and  Nathaniel  Hug- 
gins  [Huckins]. 

Capt.  Joseph  Bickford's  muster  roll,  1756,  for  defense  of  Epsom, 
contains  names  of  Durham  men,  Joseph  Randall,  Ed.  Pender- 
gast,  Benjamin  Hall,  Gideon  Leighton,  Joseph  Doe,  and  Samuel 
Bickford. 

For  further  information  about  the  military  rolls  of  this  period 
see  Adjutant  General's  Report,  Vol.  II,  1866,  and  N.  H.  Province 
Papers. 

The  following  documents  are  copied  from  the  historical  col- 
lections of  Col.  Lucien  Thompson  and  may  be  of  interest  to  the 
reader.  The  first  document  has  no  date,  but,  from  the  names  in 
it,  appears  to  have  been  written  before  9  September  1757: 

Provinc  of        \  To  Quarter 
New  hampshire   J  Samuel  Demeritt 

In  his  Majstys  name  you  are  Required  to  See  that  the  men  that  are  apinted 
to  go  on  Duty  are  fited  as  the  Law  Directs  Emeadately  to  march  att  a  quartr 
of  an  ouer  notis  heare  of  faill  not  and  you  will  oblige  your  Humble  Servant 

Daniel  Rogers  Cap'. 

the  men  apinted  are 

Stephen  Wille         9  men  under  your 

Joseph  wormwood  Jum  command  from 

Edward  Hill  Durham  are 
Stephen  Sweet  [Swett] 

Stephen  Leathers  Stephen  Wille  Junr 

Thomas  Leathers  Benjam  Buzell 

Jonathan  Langly  Stephen  Leathers 

Benjamin  Buzell  Edward  Hill 

Jonathan  Rendal  Joseph  Wormwood  Jun 

to  march  according  to  order 

The  two  following  documents  contain,  in  the  original,  the 
autograph  signatures  of  the  subscribers.  They  show  the  military 
spirit  that  prevailed  and  the  undesigned  preparation  for  the  ap- 
proaching conflict  with  Great  Britain.  For  drill  in  time  of  peace 
they  seem  to  have  preferred  cavalry  to  infantry.  They  were 
"Gentleman  Troopers,"  getting  ready  to  be  future  officers,  as 
many  hoped. 

We  the  Subscribers  Do  hereby  Signify  our  Consent  &  Desire  to  Join  in  a 
Company  of  horse  that  may  be  Raised  in  the  Town  of  Durham  &  Parish  of 


HISTORY    OF    DURHAM 


115 


Madbury  under  Such  officers  as  may  be  Appointed  by  the  Honourable  Benning 
wentworth  Esqr  Governor  &  Commander  in  and  Over  the  province  of  new- 
hampshire  &  Do  hereby  manifest  our  Desire  that  Such  a  Company  may  be 
Raised  &  that  we  will  be  properly  Equipt  in  a  Reasonable  Time  to  Join  in 
Such  a  Company  in  witness  whereof  we  hereunto  Subscribe  our  names  this 
27th  Day  of  Sep*  1764. 

Daniel  Meserve  Jun 

Robert  Hill. 

Beniamjn  Gerrish. 

Jonathan  meserve 

Samuel  Jones 

John  Emerson 

John  Roberts  Junr 

Timothy  Moses  Junr 

John  Hill 

Beniam  Chesla  Junr 


Job  Demerit  Junr 
Samuel  Emerson 
Joseph  Demerit 
Solomon  Demerit 
Zachariah  Boodey 
Robert  Hill 
John  Demerit 
Clemet  Meserve  Jun 
Ebenezer  Miserue. 
Abednego  Leathers. 


Durham,  April  17,  1765. 
We  the  under  Named  Subscribers  do  hereby  Inlist  our  Selves  under  the  Com- 
mand, of  Captain  Samuel  Demerit  Esqr.  in  a  Troop  of  horse  in  the  Province  of 
New  Hampshire  to  Ride  as  Troopers  under  his  Command  of  which  Troop  the 
Honourable  Clement  March  Esqr.  is  Colonel. 


Solomon  Demeret 
Samuel  Clark 
Joseph  Jackson. 
Stephen  Wille  Jum 
Giordon  Mathes 
hezekiah  randel. 
Robert  Hill 
David  Davis  sd 
Edward  hill 
Thomas  Lathers 
James  Davis  Junr 
Mason  Rendel 
Joseph  Lebbey 
Jonathan  Meserve 
william  Rendel  Jun1 
Job  Demeret  Jum 
John  Ring 
Philip  yeaton 
Benning  Brackett. 
Samuel  Emerson. 


Timothy  Moses  Jum 
John  Emerson 

Trumpeter  of  this  Trope 
Richard  Hull 
James  Bonely 
Alpheas  Chesley 
Joseph  Wormwood 
Yolintine  Mathes  Junr 
Nathe  Daniels 
Clement  Meserve. 
Ichabod  Bussell 
John  Edgerley 
Joshua  Wiggin 
thomas  gorge 
John  Williams 
David  Daniels 
Jonathan  Williams 
Samuel  Snell 
Josiah  Burley 
George  tutle. 

Gentleman  Troopers. 


Il6  HISTORY   OF   DURHAM 


The  Revolution 

On  the  eighteenth  day  of  July  1774,  Ebenezer  Thompson, 
Esq.,  and  John  Sullivan,  Esq.,  were  elected  to  attend  a  conven- 
tion at  Exeter  for  the  purpose  of  choosing  delegates  to  attend  the 
General  Congress  to  be  held  at  Philadelphia  the  first  day  of 
September  next.  This  was  the  first  step  taken  by  Durham  as  a 
town  toward  the  liberation  of  the  American  Colonies  from  the 
oppressive  yoke  of  Great  Britain. 

Soon  after  contributions  were  sent  by  various  towns  for  the 
relief  of  those  who  suffered  from  the  Boston  Port  Bill.  The 
following  letter,  dated  21  November  1774,  shows  Durham's 
sympathy  with  "suffering  brethren  in  Boston." 

Gentlemen:  We  take  pleasure  in  transmitting  to  you  by  Mr.  Scammell 
a  few  cattle,  with  a  small  sum  of  money,  which  a  number  of  persons  in  this 
place,  tenderly  sympathizing  with  our  suffering  brethren  in  Boston,  have  con- 
tributed towards  their  support.  With  this,  or  soon  after,  you  will  receive 
the  donations  of  a  number  in  Lee,  a  parish  lately  set  off  from  this  Town,  and 
in  a  few  days  those  of  Dover,  Newmarket,  &  other  adjacent  Towns.  What  you 
herewith  receive  comes  not  from  the  opulent,  but  mostly  from  the  industrious 
yeomanry  in  this  parish.  We  have  but  a  few  persons  of  affluent  fortunes 
among  us,  but  those  have  most  cheerfully  contributed  to  the  relief  of  the  dis- 
tressed in  your  metropolis. 

This  is  considered  by  us,  not  as  a  gift,  or  an  act  of  charity,  but  of  justice, 
as  a  small  part  of  what  we  are  in  duty  bound  to  communicate  to  those  truly 
noble  &  patriotic  advocates  of  American  freedom,  who  are  bravely  standing 
in  the  gap  between  us  &  slavery,  defending  the  common  interests  of  a  whole 
continent  and  gloriously  struggling  in  the  cause  of  liberty.  Upon  you  the  eyes 
of  all  America  are  fixed.  Upon  your  invincible  patience,  fortitude  &  resolution 
(under  God)  depends  all  that  is  dear  to  them  and  their  posterity.  May  that 
superintendent  gracious  Being,  whose  ears  are  ever  open  to  the  cry  of  the  op- 
pressed, in  answer  to  the  incessant  prayers  of  his  people,  defend  our  just  cause, 
turn  the  counsels  of  our  enemies  into  foolishness,  deliver  us  from  the  hands 
of  our  oppressors  and  make  those  very  measures,  by  which  they  are  endeavor- 
ing to  compass  our  destruction,  the  means  of  fixing  our  invaluable  rights  & 
privileges  upon  a  more  firm  &  lasting  basis. 

While  with  the  most  painful  sensations  we  reflect  that  prior  to  the  commence- 
ment of  the  evils  which  now  surround  us,  supineness  &  inattention  to  our  com- 
mon interests  had  so  far  prevailed,  as  almost  wholly  to  sink  in  luxury  &  dissi- 
pation the  inhabitants  of  these  Colonies;  we  are  bound  to  acknowledge  the 
divine  wisdom  &  goodness,  which  by  these  calamities  roused  us  from  our 
lethargy,  and  taught  us  to  defend  those  inestimable  liberties,  which  otherwise 
must  have  been  forever  lost  to  us  &  our  posterity;  and  to  evince  his  determina- 


HISTORY   OF   DURHAM  117 

tion  to  save  America,  directed  the  attacks  of  our  enemies  to  that  quarter 
where  the  virtue  &  firmness  of  the  inhabitants  could  brave  the  shafts  of  mili- 
tary tyrants,  and  set  at  defiance  the  threats  of  an  exasperated  &  despotic 
minister. 

We  are  pleased  to  find,  that  the  methods  by  which  the  ministry  sought  to 
divide,  have  happily  united  us,  and  by  every  new  act  of  oppression,  more  & 
more  strengthened  union.  And  we  can,  with  truth,  assure  you,  gentlemen, 
that  in  this  quarter  we  are  engaged,  to  a  man,  in  your  defence,  and  in  defence 
of  the  common  cause.  We  are  ready  to  communicate  of  our  substance  largely, 
as  your  necessities  require;  and,  with  our  estates,  to  give  our  lives  &  mingle 
our  blood  with  yours,  in  the  common  sacrifice  to  liberty.  And  since  we  have 
no  asylum  on  earth,  to  which  we  may  fly:  before  we  will  submit  to  wear  the 
chains  of  slavery  a  profligate  &  arbitrary  ministry  are  preparing  for  us,  we  are 
determined  upon  an  emigration  through  the  gate  of  death,  in  hope  of  inheriting 
the  fair  land  of  promise  and  participating  with  our  forefathers  in  th^  glorious 
liberty  of  the  Sons  of  God. 

That  Heaven  may  support  you,  under  your  distressing  circumstances,  and 
send  you  a  speedy  and  happy  deliverance  from  your  present  troubles,  is  the 
earnest  prayer  of,  Gentlemen,  your  cordial  friends  and  very  humble  servants, 

John  Adams, 

John  Sullivan,  Committee. 

[Mass.  Hist.  Col'.,  Fourth  Series,  Vol.  I.,  p.  144.] 

It  is  probable  that  this  letter  was  composed  and  written  by  the 
Rev.  John  Adams,  in  consultation  with  John  Sullivan  and  many- 
others  in  Durham.  Note  the  unanimity  of  sentiment  expressed. 
It  is  a  noble  document,  and  the  church  and  town  should  be  proud 
and  grateful  that  a  man  of  such  spirit  and  abilities  was  a  leader 
among  them  at  a  critical  time.  John  Sullivan  wielded  the  sword 
and  earned  all  the  honors  he  has  received.  John  Adams  remained 
in  the  work  of  the  Christian  ministry,  serving  his  country  as 
faithfully  as  the  other,  and  four  years  later  was  forced  out  of 
Durham  by  a  false  and  slanderous  tongue.  Is  the  pen  mightier 
than  the  sword?  This  eloquent  epistle  is  worthy  to  be  ranked 
with  the  utterances  of  the  most  famous  orators  and  patriots  of 
revolutionary  times. 

On  the  twenty-third  of  the  following  November  a  town  meet- 
ing was  called  "to  make  choice  of  committee  to  observe  the  con- 
duct of  All  persons  touching  the  association  of  the  late  American 
Congress  held  at  Philadelphia  and  to  proceed  with  those  who 
Violate  the  same  in  the  way  pointed  out  by  the  said  Congress." 
This  meeting  convened  at  two  o'clock  of  the  afternoon  of  28  No- 
vember  1774  and   adjourned   to  the  house  of   Lieut.  Winborn 


Il8  HISTORY   OF    DURHAM 

Adams,  who  lived  just  across  the  road  from  the  meeting  house, 
possibly  because  it  was  late  in  the  year  and  those  assembled 
could  keep  warm  more  easily  in  Adams'  house,  for  meeting  houses 
then  had  neither  stoves  nor  chimneys.  The  record  of  the  meeting 
is  as  follows,  lacking  somewhat  in  clearness.  No  Association 
Test,  signed  by  inhabitants  of  Durham,  is  found  in  the  office  of 
Secretary  of  State  of  New  Hampshire,  though  eighty-six  towns 
are  so  represented : 

There  James  Gilmor  Esqr.  Valentine  Mathes  Esqr.  George  Frost  Esq'.  Jn» 
Sullivan  Esqr.  Ebenezer  Thompson  Esqr.  Capt.  Thomas  Chesley,  Jn°  Smith 
3d.  Maj'  Stephen  Jones.  Voted  that  May  Jones  be  Excused  from  serving 
Tho»  Hardy  chose.  Mr  Jonathan  Chesley  Lt.  Winborn  Adams  Mr  Moses 
Emerson  Mr  Alexander  Scammell  Mr  Stephen  Cogan  Mr  Joseph  Stevens — 
chosen  a  Committee  for  the  purpose  within  mentioned.  Maj'  Stephen  Jones 
put  to  Vote  again  and  rechosen  and  Mr.  John  Griffin  Jeremiah  Burnum  Lt. 
Samuel  Chesley  Doctor  Samuel  Wigglesworth  Jonathan  Woodman  3d  Xath' 
Hill  Timothy  Medar  Xath"  Demerit  &  Francis  Mathes — Voted  Revd  John 
Adams  Ebenezer  Thompson  Esqr  Major  Sullivan  Jn°  Smith  y  and  Mr 
Moses  Emerson  be  a  Committee  of  Correspondence  to  Correspond  with  the 
Committees  of  the  severall  Towns  in  this  and  the  other  Governments  in 
British  America,  the  Determination  of  three  of  the  sd  Committee  to  be  suffi- 
cient. Resolved  that  the  select  Men  of  Durham  ought  forthwith  to  add  to 
the  Town  stock  of  Powder  so  as  to  make  it  up  200  lbs  and  to  lay  in  400  lb 
bullets  &  500  flints. 

Last  Monday  of  each  month  to  meet.  Mr  Emerson  chosen  Chairman  of 
the  Committee  of  Inspection.     [Town  Records,  Vol.  II,  p.  94.] 

The  opportunity  to  add  to  the  town's  stock  of  powder  soon 
presented  itself.  Down  at  New  Castle,  at  the  mouth  of  the 
Pascataqua  River,  stood  Fort  William  and  Mary,  known  to  con- 
tain valuable  military  stores.  On  the  thirteenth  of  December, 
1774,  Paul  Revere  brought  to  Portsmouth  a  message  from  the 
Committee  in  Boston,  that  troops  were  to  be  sent  to  reinforce  the 
fort,  and  that  orders  in  the  King's  Council  prohibited  the  ex- 
portation of  gunpowder  and  military  stores  to  America.  Gov. 
Wentworth  sent  word  to  Captain  John  Cochran,  who  commanded 
only  five  men  at  the  fort,  to  be  on  his  guard.  He  put  three  four- 
pounders  where  he  thought  they  would  do  the  most  good  and 
awaited  the  expected  assault. 

On  the  fourteenth  of  December  about  four  hundred  men 
assembled  in  Portsmouth  under  the  leadership  of  Hon.  John 
Langdon.     Tradition  says  that  Thomas   Pickering  also  had  a 


HISTORY   OF   DURHAM  I  1 9 

leading  part,  for  which  the  evidence  is  not  so  full.  They  went 
to  the  fort  in  gondolas  and  naturally  did  not  face  the  cannon's 
mouth,  when  there  was  an  easier  way  of  approach.  The  cannon 
and  small  arms  were  discharged  at  command  of  Capt.  Cochran, 
but  nobody  was  hurt.  Indeed,  he  probably  aimed  so  as  to  hurt 
nobody,  thus  saving  himself  and  his  men  from  harm.  Capt. 
Cochran  reported  in  writing,  "Before  we  could  be  ready  to  fire 
again,  we  were  stormed  on  all  quarters,  and  they  immediately 
secured  both  me  and  my  men,  and  kept  us  prisoners  about  one 
hour  and  a  half,  during  which  time  they  broke  open  the  powder- 
house  and  took  all  the  powder  away,  except  one  barrel;  and  hav- 
ing put  it  into  boats  and  sent  it  off,  they  released  me  from 
confinement."  This  was  written  the  very  day  of  the  assault  and 
is,  doubtless,  literally  true. 

About  one  hundred  barrels  of  gunpowder — the  number  varies 
a  little  in  different  statements — were  sent  to  Maj.  John  Sullivan 
at  Durham,  which  he  deposited  in  places  of  security,  as  he  after- 
ward wrote.  He  further  says,  "  I  went  down  with  a  large  number 
of  men  and  in  the  night  following  went  in  person  with  gondolas, 
took  possession  of  the  fort,  brought  away  the  remainder  of  the 
powder,  the  small  arms,  bayonets,  and  cartouch-boxes,  together 
with  the  cannon  and  ordnance  stores;  was  out  all  night,  and 
returned  to  Portsmouth  next  day.  I  might  here  add  that  I 
bore  the  expense  of  all  the  party.  The  gondolas,  with  the  stores, 
were  brought  to  Durham,  after  several  days  spent  in  cutting  the 
ice,  Durham  river  being  then  frozen  over;  the  cannon,  etc.,  was 
then  deposited  in  places  of  security.  These  are  facts  known  to 
almost  every  person  in  the  State."  This  was  published  in  the 
New  Hampshire  Mercury,  3  May  1785. 

It  appears,  then,  that  the  Durham  people  had  no  part  in  the 
first  assault  on  Fort  William  and  Mary,  and  that  the  second  as- 
sault, by  the  company  from  Durham  under  the  leadership  of 
Maj.  John  Sullivan,  during  the  night  of  15  December  1774,  met 
with  no  resistance.  Effort  has  been  made  by  writers  of  prose  and 
of  poetry  to  magnify  this  deed  and  to  secure  honor  therefor  to 
various  towns.  That  four  hundred  men  should  overcome  six 
men,  who  made  onlv  a  feint  of  resistance,  is  not  in  itself  a  deed 


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HISTORY   OF   DURHAM  121 

to  boast  of.  .4 There  was  no  fighting,  no  danger,  no  display  of 
bravery.  The  courage  required  was  not  physical,  but  moral. 
It  was  an  aggressive  act  of  rebellion  against  the  strongest  nation 
on  earth.  If  the  revolt  failed,  the  leaders  at  least  knew  that  they 
would  lose  their  lives,  but  they  knew  well  that  the  thirteen  colo- 
nies were  with  them  in  this  enterprise.  It  was  one  of  the  first 
public  acts  in  the  great  struggle  for  national  independence.  If 
there  had  been  a  little  blood  shed  on  both  sides,  this  would  have 
been  celebrated  even  more  than  the  fight  at  Concord  and  Lexing- 
ton. Somebody  must  be  killed  before  war  becomes  glorious. 
Such  at  least  is  the  verdict  of  history. 

The  powder  was  stored  first  in  the  meeting  house  at  Durham 
Falls,  as  uniform  tradition  says;  some  have  said  under  the  pulpit; 
others,  in  the  cellar;  but  the  meeting  houses  of  that  time  had  no 
cellars.  One  hundred  barrels  of  gunpowder  would  probably 
not  remain  in  or  under  the  meeting  house  over  the  Sabbath. 
The  thought  of  it  would  disturb  the  peaceful  devotions  of  the 
worshipers.  It  was  speedily  removed  and  distributed  in  several 
towns.  Some  of  it  was  stored  at  the  house  of  Hon.  Ebenezer 
Thompson,  and  more  was  carried  to  the  home  of  Maj.  John 
Demerit,  who  lived  in  Madbury.  The  exact  site  of  the  building, 
where  the  powder  entrusted  to  him  was  kept,  is  now  pointed  out. 
The  tradition  that  he  hauled  with  an  ox-team  some  of  this  powder 
to  be  used  at  the  battle  of  Bunker  Hill  seems  to  be  trustworthy. 
That  some  of  it  was  sent  later  to  Winter  Hill  at  the  request  of  Gen. 
Sullivan  is  clear  by  historical  evidence.  The  arms  brought  from 
the  fort  to  Durham  were  repaired  and  put  in  order,  as  appears 
from  a  town  record  under  date  of  31  March  1783,  "Voted  that 
the  select  men  Be  directed  to  allow  Thomas  Wille  20/9  in  full 
for  repairing  the  guns  brought  from  Fort  Wm  and  Mary." 

The  men  who  went  down  to  the  fort  from  Durham  are  men- 
tioned in  part  by  Gen.  Sullivan  in  an  article  published  in  the 
New  Hampshire  Spy  of  17  March  1789.  He  says  that  Ebenezer 
Thompson  went  with  the  party  to  Portsmouth,  but  did  not  go 
down  to  the  fort.  Among  those  who  did  go  to  the  fort  were 
"the  Rev.  Mr.  Adams,  Dea.  Norton,  Lieut.  Durgin,  Capt. 
Jonathan  Woodman,  Mr.  Aaron  Davis,  and,  I  think,  Mr.  Foot- 
man of  Dover,  and  many  others."     Capt.  Eleazer  Bennett,  the 


122  HISTORY   OF   DURHAM 

last  survivor  of  those  who  took  part  in  the  capture  #f  the  military 
stores,  who  lived  to  be  over  one  hundred  years  old,  gave  an  account 
of  the  affair  to  the  Rev.  Mr.  Tobey  of  Durham,  which  was  pub- 
lished in  the  Congregational  Journal  of  18  February  1852.  Be- 
sides being  there  himself  he  mentioned  John  Sullivan,  Winborn 
Adams,  Ebenezer  Thompson,  John  Demerit  of  Madbury,  Alpheus 
Chesley,  Jonathan  Chesley,  Peter  French,  John  Spencer,  Micah 
Davis,  Edward  [Ebenezer]  Sullivan,  Isaac  Small  and  Benjamin 
Small.  Gen.  Sullivan  wrote  in  1785  that  he  was  assisted  by  his 
three  clerks  in  bringing  the  stores  up  the  river,  and  these  clerks, 
or  law-students,  were  Alexander  Scammell,  Peter  French  and 
James  Underwood.1 

January  2,  1775,  the  town  again  chose  Ebenezer  Thompson, 
Esq.,  and  John  Sullivan,  Esq.,  as  deputies  to  attend  a  convention 
at  Exeter,  to  chose  delegates  to  the  General  Congress  to  meet  at 
Philadelphia,  and  26  April  1775,  a  special  meeting  of  the  in- 
habitants of  Durham  chose  Moses  Emerson  as  Moderator  and 
voted  as  follows: 

That  Ebenezer  Thompson  Esq'  Mr.  Moses  Emerson  and  John  Smith  3J 
be  Deputies  to  attend  the  Provincial  Congress  at  Exeter  forthwith.  Lt. 
Samuel  Chesley  added  to  the  Committee. 

Voted  that  the  Town  would  Pay  any  men  that  Should  Set  off  Equipt  as 
Soldiers  for  Boston  according  as  the  Provincial  Congress  shall  determine,  if 
they  vote  anything  otherwise  the  Town  to  Allow  them  a  reasonable  sum. 

Voted  that  those  persons  who  are  about  to  march  and  not  able  to  furnish 
themselves  be  furnished  by  the  Select  Men. 

This  was  seven  days  after  the  battle  of  Lexington.  It  is  evi- 
dent that  some  men  from  Durham  went  to  Boston  soon.  How 
many  were  present  at  the  battle  of  Bunker  Hill  cannot  be  told. 
There  is  official  record  that  Alexander  Scammell  was  there  as 
brigade  major.  Moses  Emerson  was  appointed  commissary 
for  the  army  25  May  1775.  Under  date  of  28  June  1775  he  writes 
from  Medford,  Mass.,  "Ever  since  the  engagement  they  have 
been  all  hurry  and  confusion;  busie  intrenching  &  preparing  to 

'Much  that  is  based  only  in  the  imagination  has  been  written  about  this  event.  The 
account  here  given  is  taken  in  substance  from  Prof.  Charles  L.  Parsons'  The  Capture  of  Fort 
William  and  Mary,  reprinted  from  Proceedings  of  the  N.  H.  Historical  Society.  His  state- 
ments are  sosuppjrted  by  historical  evidences  that  they  can  scarcely  be  questioned. 


HISTORY   OF    DURHAM 


123 


receive  the  enemy.  The  troops  that  were  in  the  late  engagement 
lost  their  blanketts  &  Clothes."  The  reference  is  to  the  engage- 
ment at  Bunker  Hill,  17  June. 

On  20  May  1775,  the  convention  at  Exeter  voted  to  raise  three 
regiments  one  of  which  was  commanded  by  Col.  Enoch  Poor. 
The  term  of  service  was  to  expire  in  December  of  the  same  year. 
This  regiment  was  afterward  designated  as  the  Eleventh  Conti- 
nental Foot.  Durham  contributed  nearly  a  full  company,  under 
command  of  Capt.  Winborn  Adams.  Col.  Poor's  regiment  was 
stationed  on  the  seacoast,  from  Odiorne's  Point  to  the  Merri- 
mack River.  The  very  day  of  the  battle  of  Bunker  Hill  the  Com- 
mittee of  Safety  at  Exeter  directed  Gen.  Folsom  to  order  two  of 
the  companies  in  Col.  Poor's  regiment,  including  that  of  Capt. 
Adams,  to  march  to  Exeter  for  further  orders,  and  the  next 
day,  "upon  receiving  the  news  of  the  engagement  at  Charlestown 
directed  Col.  Poor  to  order  all  the  companies  in  his  regiment, 
except  Capt.  Elkins',  to  march  immediately  to  Cambridge." 

The  following  is  a  list  of  Capt.  Winborn  Adams'  company, 
2  June   1775: 


men's  names. 

AGE. 

OCCUPATION. 

TOWNS      IN 
WHICH  THEY 

Capt.  Winborn  Adams 

LIVE. 

John  Griffin 

Zebulon  Drew 

Stephen  Jones  Thomas 

24 

Ge.nt. 

Durham 

Micah  Davis 

34 

Husbandman 

Durham 

Trueworthy  Davis  Durgin 

21 

Husbandman 

Durham 

William  Adams 

19 

Taylor 

Durham 

John  Neal 

33 

Carpenter 

Barnstead 

John  Starboard 

21 

Husbandman 

Durham 

Samuel  Demerit 

19 

Husbandman 

Durham 

Charles  Bamford  Jr. 

36 

Husbandman 

Barrington 

John  Drisco 

21 

Husbandman 

Durham 

Tobias  Leighton 

37 

Joiner 

Durham 

Robert  Leathers 

40 

Husbandman 

Durham 

Ephm  Tibbits 

21 

Joiner 

Mad  bury 

David  Rand 

28 

Blacksmith 
f 
Husbandman 

Durham 

Daniel  Nute 

22 

Madbury 

David  Cops 

25 

Turner 

Durham 

Robert  Wille 

22 

Husbandman 

Durham 

James  Leighton 

25 

Taylor 

Durham 

Thomas  Ellison 

21 

Husbandman 

Barrington 

James  Thomas 

34 

Husbandman 

Durham 

John  Collins 

25 

Taylor 

Durham 

I24 


HISTORY    OF    DURHAM 


Jeremy  Young 

18 

Husbandman 

Durham 

Joseph  Rendall 

19 

Taylor 

Durham 

Samuel  Saver 

21 

Taylor 

Durham 

Eliphalet  Durgin 

22 

Joiner 

Durham 

Solomon  Runnals 

23 

Tanner 

Durham 

Abijah  Blaisdell 

2\ 

Cordwainer 

Durham 

Ezekiel  Wille 

51 

Carpenter 

Lee 

[ohn  Demerit 

26 

Blacksmith 

Madbury 

Ebenezer  Chesley 

18 

Cordwainer 

Durham 

Samuel  Hill  Clark 

22 

Husbandman 

Durham 

Sam"  Clough 

29 

Husbandman 

Durham 

Joseph  Bickford 

21 

Husbandman 

Durham 

Josiah  Burnham 

23 

Taylor 

Lee 

Dudley  Davis 

21 

Husbandman 

Barrington 

Jonn  Williams 

28 

Husbandman 

Lee 

Thomas  Davis 

21 

Husbandman 

Durham 

Nath'  Jenkans 

26 

Husbandman 

Barrington 

Sam1  Smith 

23 

Husbandman 

Madbury 

John  Johnson 

20 

Husbandman 

Durham 

Joseph  Smith 

21 

Husbandman 

Durham 

Daniel  Pinkham 

21 

Husbandman 

Madbury 

Eli  Bickford 

21 

Husbandman 

Lee 

John  Clough 

26 

Husbandman 

Durham 

John  Colbath 

22 

Husbandman 

Durham 

John  Buss 

33 

Husbandman 

Durham 

Winthrop  Wiggan 

30 

Carpenter 

Newmarket 

John  Glover 

24 

Husbandman 

Durham 

Lemuel  Nutter 

35 

Joiner 

Newington 

Joseph  Leighton 

22 

Husbandman 

Newington 

Thomas  Thompson 

23 

Husbandman 

Durham 

Moses  Meader 

-3 

Husbandman 

Durham 

Enoch  Green 

19 

Hatter 

Durham 

John  Sias 

21 

Husbandman 

Lee 

Thomas  Polluck 

25 

Husbandman 

Durham 

Daniel  Shaw- 

22 

Husbandman 

Lee 

John  Leathers 

22 

Husbandman 

Lee 

W'iliiam  Sn:art 

20 

Cordwainer 

Durham 

Nicholas  Tuttle 

22 

Husbandman 

Middletown 

Enoch  Runnals 

21 

Husbandman 

Lee 

Isaac  Tuttle 

22 

Husbandman 

Dover 

Lewis  Kynaston 

24 

Taylor 

Newmarket 

Joseph  Buzzel 

46 

Husbandman 

Madbury 

Simon  Batchelder 

18 

Husbandman 

North  wood 

Benp  Johnson 

23 

Husbandman 

Northwood 

Amos  Fernald 

24 

Cordwainer 

Lee 

James  Thompson 

26 

Joiner 

Durham 

HISTORY    OF    DURHAM  1 25 

Total  68  men  including  the  Captain,  which  said  men  are  good  effective  able 
bodied  men  mustered  &  received  by  me  June  2<*  1775, 

per  Sam'  Hobart. 
N.  B.     The  aforesaid  men  took  the  oath  proposed  by  the  Hon'  Congress,  at 
the  same  time,  before  me 

Sam'  Hobart  Jus  Pacts. 

Moses  Meader  was  received  by  the  committee  instead  of  John 
Johnson.  Another  Roll  shows  that  John  Griffin  and  Zebulon 
Drew  were  lieutenants,  Tobias  Leighton,  Micah  Davis,  John 
Neal,  and  Daniel  Shaw  were  sergeants;  David  Cops,  John  Stir- 
bourd,  John  Drisco  and  Enoch  Green  were  corporals;  John  Col- 
lins was  drummer  and  William  Adams  was  filer. 

A  pay  roll  of  this  company  omits  these  names,  viz.,  Thomas 
Ellison,  Josiah  Burnham,  Dudley  Davis,  John  Clough,  and  Joseph 
Leighton.  It  adds,  however,  the  names  of  John  Couch,  Timothy 
Davis,  Hatevil  Leighton  of  Newington,  Stephen  Noble,  Samuel 
Runolds,  Peter  Stillings  of  Ne\.  market,  Benjamin  Small  of  Lee, 
John  Shepherd  of  Barrington,  Samuel  Thompson,  Vincent  Torr, 
James  Underwood,  Jonathan  Williams,  Samuel  Yeaton,  and 
Thomas  Footman.  All  were  of  Durham  except  the  four  other- 
wise  designated. 

Tradition  says  that  many  people  in  Durham  escorted  Winborn 
Adams'  company  as  far  as  the  Newmarket  line,  where  prayer  was 
offered  by  the  Rev.  John  Adams,  cousin  to  Winborn.  At  the 
close  of  the  prayer  half  the  military  company  were  in  tears. 
We  can  well  believe  this  tradition  after  reading  John  Adams' 
letter  to  the  patriots  of  Boston. 

Association  Test  of  Lee,  1776 

It  is  said  above  that  the  soldiers  of  Winborn  Adams'  company 
took  the  oath  proposed  by  the  Honorable  Congress.  No  other 
Association  Test  of  Durham  has  been  found.  The  Rev.  John 
Adams  in  his  letter  to  the  patriots  of  Boston  says  of  the  people 
of  Durham,  "We  are  with  you  to  a  man."  Perhaps  this  is  the 
reason  why  there  was  no  test.  That  of  Lee  is  here  presented 
because  it  contains  the  names  of  so  many  persons  belonging  to 
Durham  families.  All  these  promised  to  oppose  the  British 
forces,  to  the  utmost  of  their  power,  at  the  risk  of  their  lives  and 
fortunes.  The  names  are  here  arranged  alphabetically  for  con- 
venience of  the  reader. 


126 


HISTORY    OF    DURHAM 


Thomas  Arlcn 
Philbrook  Barker 
Josiah  Bartlet 
Micajah  Bickford 
Samuel  Bickford 
William  Bly 
James  Brackett 
Joseph  Brackett 
Benjamin  Braily? 
Benjamin  Bodge 
Mr.  Samuel  Bodge 
Josiah  Burley 
Samuel  Burley 
Ebenezer  Burnum 
Joshua  Burnam 
Joshua  Burnham  Jr. 
Benj»  Clark 
Isaac  Clark 
James  Clemens 
George  Chale 
Daniel  Chele 
Lemuel  Chesley 
Zaccheus  Clough 

James  Davis 
Clement  Davis 

John  Davis 
David  Davis 

John  Davis 
Moses  Dame 
Hunking  Dame 

Cornilus  Dinsmore 

Elijah  Dinsmore 

Jonathan  Dow 

Benjamin  Durgin 

Josiah  Dergien 

Samuel  Durgin 

Joseph  Doe 

George  Duch 

John  Emerson 

Samuel  Emerson 

Smith  Emerson 

Anthony  Fling 

John  Follett 

Joseph  Follett 

Peter  Folsom 

Elijah  Fox 

Nathaniel  Frost 

William  French 


Dimond  Furnald 
Amos  Furnald 
Eli  Furber 
Jonathan  Fisk 
Ruel  Giles 
William  Gliden 
John  Glover 
William  Goen 
Edward  Hill 
Reuben  Hill 
Samuel  Hill 
Richard  Hull 
Thomas  Hunt 
Sam.  Hutchin 
Thomas  Huckins  Jr. 
Jeremiah  Hutchins 
Bennan  Jackson 
Samuel  Jackson 
Ebenezer  Jones 
E.  Jones  Jr. 
Benjamin  Jones 
George  Jones 
John  Jones 
Joseph  Jones 
Benjamin  Jones 
Matthias  Jones 
John  Kinnison 
Josiah  Kinnison 
Samuel  Langmaid 
Samuel  Langley 
Thomas  Langley 
Edward  Leathers 
John  Leathers 
John  Layn 
Gideon  Mathes 
Samuel  Mathes 
Nicholas  Meder 
John  Mendum 
Timothy  Moses 
Timothy  Muncy 
Thomas  Noble 
Robert  Parker 
Joseph  Pitman 
John  Putnam 
Ebenezer  Randel 
Miles  Randel 
Simon  Rindel 
Enoch  Runels 


HISTORY   OF    DURHAM 


127 


Job  Runels 
Moses  Runales 
Jonathan  Runals 
Job  Runels  Jr. 
John  Sanborn 
Edward  Scales 
Ephm  Sherburne 
Daniel  Shaw 
John  Sias 
Joseph  Sias 
Samuel  Smith 
Samuel  Snell  Jr. 
Isaac  Small 
Jonathan  Stevens 
Nathaniel  Stevens 
Stephen  Stevens 
Samuel  Stevens 
William  Stevens 
Jonathan  Thompson 
Tolman  Thompson 
Henry  Tufts 
Thomas  Tuffts 


George  Tuttle 
Thomas  Tuttle 
Henry  Tufts  Jr. 
Nicholas  Tuttle 
Andrew  Watson 
Eleson  Watson 
Joseph  Watson 
James  Watson 
William  Waymouth 
Ezekiel  Wille 
Stephen  Wille 
Thomas  Wille 
Zebulon  Wiley 
Zekiel  Wille 
Samuel  Wille 
John  Williams 
Edward  Woodman 
Samuel  Woodman 
Joshua  Woodmarch 
John  Wiggin 
Robert  York 
Thomas  York 


The  following  men  in  Lee  refused  to  sign  the  Test,  some  for 
conscientious  reasons,  because  they  were  Friends.  Among  the 
latter  were  the  Cartland,  Jenkins,  Meader  and  Bunker  families. 
The  Association  Test  papers  were  signed  by  Ichabod  Whidden 
and  William  Laskey,  as  Selectmen: 


William  Calwell 
Joseph  Emerson 
James  Bunker 
Joseph  Cartlin 
Richard  Glover 
Aaron  Hanson 
William  Jenkins 


William  Jenkins  Jr. 
Joseph  Meder 
Samuel  Lamas 
David  Muncey 
Charles  Rundet 
Robert  Thompson 
John  Snell 


The  following  is  a  copy  of  a  paper  that  was  in  the  possession 
of  the  late  Stephen  Millett  Thompson  and  needs  no  explanation: 

We  the  Subscribers,  thinking  it  a  Duty  incumbent  upon  us  at  all  Times  (but 
more  especially  at  this  alarming  Juncture)  to  lend  our  Aid  &  Assistance  as 
far  as  in  us  lays  for  the  Defence  of  our  Country  and  of  those  Priviledges  & 
Liberties  which  God  &  our  Ancestors  of  happy  memory  have  handed  down 
to  us;  and  as  our  restless  and  implacable  Enemies  are  forceably  endeavoring 
to  deprive  us  of  them:  Therefore  it  behooves  us  to  exert  ourselves  to  the  utmost 
of  our  Power  in  their  Defence,  which  cannot  be  done  unless  we  are  properly 
ofncer'd  and  fixed  with  Arms  and  Ammunition.  In  Consideration  of  the  above 
we  have  come  unto  the  following  agreement — 


128  HISTORY   OF    DURHAM 

Viz.  That  we  will  assemble  and  meet  at  Durham  Falls,  on  Monday  the  tenth 
day  of  July  next  ensuing,  at  two  of  the  Clock  in  the  Afternoon,  then  and  there 
to  choose  a  Chief  Officer  and  two  Subalterns,  and  such  other  under  Officers  as 
the  Company  then  met  shall  think  proper,  which  said  Officers  shall  be  chosen 
out  of  the  Subscribers  to  this  Agreement,  and  shall  have  it  in  their  Power  to 
order  Meetings  for  the  future,  as  often  as  they  shall  think  necessary  and  con- 
venient. And  we  engage  that  we  will  do  our  utmost  Endeavor  to  provide  our- 
selves with  well  fixed  Firelocks,  Powder  and  Balls  sufficient  for  them,  as  can 
be  procured,  and  that  without  any  Delay.  And  further  we  engage  that  we  will 
when  ordered  to  assemble,  and  while  assembled,  pay  proper  Regard,  &  be  under 
due  Subordination  &  Subjection  to  our  said  Officers,  in  as  full  and  ample  man- 
ner, as  we  should  were  they  commissioned  by  the  highest  Power. 

In  Confirmation  of  all  and  every  Part  of  the  above  Agreement,  we  have  set 
our  Hands  this  twenty  ninth  Day  of  June  A.  D.  1775. 

Jere  Folsom  Ju',  Edward  Winslow'  (?),  Josp  Stevens,  Alpheus  Chesley, 
Ephraim  Folsom,  Solomon  Davis,  Jonathan  Woodman  Jun.,  Robert  Hill, 
Lemuel  Jackson,  Jonathan  Bickford,  Steven  Jones,  Wilam  Cotten,  E.  Thomp- 
son, John  Folsom,  Theophilus  Hardy,  Albert  Dennier,  Nath'  Hill,  Timothy 
Medar,  Enoch  Jackson,  Jona  Chesley,  John  Welsh,  Jona  Woodman  3d,  Patrick 
Cogan,  Sam'  Wigglesworth,  Thos  Pinkham,  John  Hill,  Thomas  Edgerly,  Samuel 
Chesle,  John  Thompson,  John  Crockit,  Jonathan  Woodman,  Arch  Woodman, 
Timothy  Emerson,  Eliakim  Bickford,  Abednego  Spencer,  Daniel  Rogers, 
Benja  Chesle  Ju'. 

The  remainder  of  the  paper,  containing  additional  names, 
has  been  lost.  The  whole  list  is  thought  to  have  had  about  one 
hundred  names.  Many  of  the  above  afterward  served  in  the 
Revolutionary  Army. 

At  a  town  meeting  held  11  December  1775  "Ebenezer  Thomp- 
son Esqr  was  chosen  to  Represent  the  Town  of  Durham  in  General 
Congress  to  be  held  at  Exeter  on  the  21st  Day  of  December  cur- 
rent at  6  o'clock  in  the  afternoon  and  impowered  to  act  in  sd 
Capacity  for  the  Term  of  one  Year.  Either  as  a  member  of  the 
Congress  or  if  such  a  Government  should  be  assumed  by  a 
Recommendation  from  the  Continental  Congress  as  would  require 
a  House  of  Representatives,  the  sd  Thompson  to  become  a  mem- 
ber of  the  House  agreeable  to  the  within  Notification."  Here, 
then,  is  Durham's  first  representative  in  the  State's  revolutionary 
government. 

Durham  kept  sending  men  to  the  front  and  supplying  their 
families  while  they  were  in  the  army.  At  first  the  volunteers 
were  many  and  for  short  periods  of  service.  Later  it  was  more 
difficult  to  get  men  to  inlist  for  three  years  or  during  the  war. 
Bounties  were  offered   to    volunteers.     March    31,     1777,   Col. 

JProbably  Edward  Winslow  Emerson. 


HISTORY   OP   DURHAM  1 29 

Samuel  Chesley,  Capt.  Timothy  Emerson  and  Capt.  John  Burnam 
were  appointed  a  committee  to  draw  upon  the  selectmen  of  Dur- 
ham "for  any  sum  they  in  their  prudence  may  think  sufficient 
to  use  and  apply  for  hiring  men  to  compleat  our  quota."  The 
men  so  hired  helped  to  fill  up  three  Continental  Battalions  then 
raised  in  New  Hampshire. 

The  inflation  of  prices  caused  by  the  war  made  it  necessary  to 
fix  the  prices  of  necessary  provisions  for  the  families  of  soldiers, 
and  the  price  of  Indian  corn  was  fixed  at  four  shillings  per  bushel, 
of  salted  pork  at  seven  pence  and  a  half  per  pound,  and  of  beef 
at  three  pence  and  a  half  per  pound,  the  town  paying  the  balance, 
if  such  articles  could  not  be  obtained  at  such  prices.  The  town 
records  declare  that  Widow  Sarah  Colbath  was  aided  like  the 
wives  of  soldiers  and  that  "John  Hull  have  the  Cow  that  was 
purchased  by  the  town  committee  for  his  family  in  his  absence, 
he  paying  the  sd  Committee  Eighteen  Dollars  for  the  Use  of  the 
Town."  The  committee  were  instructed  at  the  same  time  to 
buy  sixty  bushels  of  corn  and  two  thousand  pounds  of  beef  for 
the  use  of  the  families  of  soldiers.  A  bounty  of  $300  was  paid  to 
David  Kynaston  in  1779,  and  in  1781  Jonathan  Chesley  was 
voted  "4600  Dollars"  for  advancing  the  money  to  the  said  Kynas- 
ton, or  Kenniston,  showing  the  rapid  inflation  of  currency. 
March  29,  1779,  the  town  voted  to  "pay  the  Wid°  Susanna 
Crown  twenty  Dollars  toward  her  support  she  having  lost  her 
Husband  in  the  service  of  the  United  States."  This  is  the  first 
time  the  United  States  are  mentioned  in  the  town  records.  In 
1779  five  men  volunteered  to  join  the  expedition  to  Rhode  Island, 
and  the  town  paid  them  $100  above  the  State  bounty.  Two  of 
the  men  were  James  Thomas  and  Trueworthy  Davis  Durgin. 

The  Committee  of  Safety,  Inspection  and  Correspondence  for 
1777  and  1778  consisted  of  Ebenezer  Thompson,  Esq.,  John 
Smith,  3d,  Esq.,  Moses  Emerson,  Esq.,  Valentine  Mathes,  Esq., 
Benjamin  Smith,  Esq.,  Joseph  Stevens,  Esq.,  Col.  Alpheus  Ches- 
ley, Capt.  Thomas  Chesley,  Mr.  John  Thompson,  James  Gilmor, 
Esq.,  Mr.  Jonathan  Woodman,  Jr.,  Mr.  Nathaniel  Hill  and  Capt. 
Timothy  Emerson.  The  committee  for  1779  was  the  same  except 
that  Lieut.  Benjamin  Chesley  was  substituted  for  his  father, 
Capt.  Thomas  Chesley,  deceased.  The  committee  for  1780 
consisted  of  Ebenezer  Thompson,  Esq.,  Mr.  John  Thompson, 
Valentine  Mathes,  Esq.,  Capt.  Timothy  Emerson,   Col.  Alpheus 

9 


130  HISTORY    OF   DURHAM 

Chelsey,  Joseph  Stevens,  Esq.,  James  Gilmor,  Esq.,  Lieut. 
Benjamin  Chesley,  Mr.  Nathaniel  Hill,  John  Smith,  3d,  Mr. 
Jonathan  Woodman,  Hon.  Gen.  Sullivan,  and  Col.  Samuel  Ches- 
ley. The  committee  for  1781  included  Mr.  Jonathan  Chesley 
and  Capt.  John  Grifin,  and  omitted  John  Thompson  and  Alpheus 
Chesley. 

In  1779  a  committee  appointed  to  consider  the  inflated  prices 
and  depreciation  of  paper  currency  reported  a  series  of  resolves 
to  be  signed  by  voluntary  subscribers,  to  the  effect  that  they 
would  not  ask  more  for  certain  commodities  than  the  prices 
established  by  the  committee  and  that  such  prices  should  be 
changed  only  in  agreement  with  Portsmouth  and  neighboring 
towns.  The  following  persons  signed  the  agreement,  Alpheus 
Chesley,  Jacob  Joy,  Ebenezer  Chesley,  William  Jackson,  Enoch 
Jackson,  Samuel  Chesley,  Philip  Chesley,  Thomas  Dame,  Jona- 
than Williams,  James  Gilmor,  James  Leighton,  Lem  Jackson, 
Benjamin  Bunker,  Ebenezer  Meserve,  Jeremiah  Burnham, 
Samuel  Hicks,  Eliphalet  Wiggin,  Benmor  Duda,  Samuel  Joy, 
Joseph  Chesley,  Jr.,  Ephraim  Clough,  Benjamin  Doe,  Jr.,  James 
Drisco,  Joseph  Rendal,  Pike  Burnam,  Samuel  Nutter  and  Robert 
Lapish. 

On  the  1 8th  of  October,  1779,  the  report  of  a  committee  was 
accepted,  fixing  the  price  of  merchandize  and  country  produce 
in  pounds  and  shillings  of  greatly  depreciated  currency.  Silver 
and  gold  coins  were  not  in  circulation,  having  been  bought  up 
by  speculators.  The  following  list  is  instructive  as  showing  the 
necessities  of  life  and  their  comparative  values: 

West  India  Rum  per  gallon,  £6.12;  New  England  Rum,  5.2;  Molasses  per 
gal,  4.13,  Coffee  per  pound,  £0.18;  Sugar  from  12s  to  14s  per  pound;  Tea  per 
pound,  6.6,  Chocolate,  1.7;  Cotton  Wool  per  pound,  £2;  salt  of  the  best  quality 
per  bushel,  £9;  New  England  made  salt,  £6;  Indian  Corn,  per  bushel,  4.10; 
Rye,  6;  Wheat,  9;  Oats,  2.5;  Peas,  best  quality,  9;  Beans,  9;  Beef,  Mutton, 
Lamb  and  veal  by  the  quarter,  4  shillings  per  pound;  Hides  per  pound,  3.6; 
Pork  by  the  Hog,  per  pound,  6  shillings;  Butter,  per  pound,  12  s;  Cheese,  6s; 
English  Hay  per  ton,  £30;  German  Steel  per  pound  £1.16;  Bloomery  Iron  per  c, 
£30;  Cider  at  the  press  per  barrel,  £5.8;  Flax  well  dressed  per  pound,  12s; 
Sheep  wool,  £1.10;  Sole  Leather  per  pound,  £1.1;  Upper  Leather,  well  cured, 
per  side,  £12;  Green  Calf  Skin,  £2.14;  Calf  Skin  dressed  at  a  medium,  £6; 
Side  of  Leather  Suitable  for  Saddles,  £13.4;  Laborer  per  day  found  as  usual, 
£2.2;  Tradesmen  that  work  abroad  and  are  found  as  usual,  £3.3;  Blacksmiths 
for  shoeing  a  horse  all  round,  steel  corcks,  £6;  Shifting  a  set  of  shoes,  £1.16; 
Axes,  £7. 10;  Mens  Shoes  of  the  best  quality  from  £7  to  £8  per  pair;  Best  Womens 


HISTORY   OF    DURHAM  131 

shoes,  £6;  Cabinet  makers  to  have  no  more  than  20  for  1  from  the  price  of 
1774;  Felt  Hats,  £6;  Tailors  to  have  £18  for  a  suit  of  plain  Cloaths  and  other 
work  in  like  proportion;  Innholders,  for  Dinners,  £1  ;for  Breakfastsand  suppers, 
15s;  Horse  keeping  to  Hay,  £1.4;  Toddy  per  bowl,  15s;  Cyder  per  mug,  5s; 
Oats  per  mess,  7s;  Tallow  handles  per  pound,  15s;  Letters  of  horses  to  have  4s 
per  mile  out  and  nothin  in;  Potatoes  and  Turnips  of  the  best  quality,  24s 
per  bushel;  Wood  per  cord,  £13.10;  Good  Saddle,  £52.16;  Bridle, — ;  Poultry 
— ;  Hogs  fat,  per  pound,  13s;  Winter  apples  per  bushel,  18s;  All  articles  of 
country  produce,  manufacture,  or  labour  not  herein  enumerated  to  be  at  20 
for  1  from  the  price  in  the  year  1774. 

In  this  list  the  relative  price  of  labor  is  the  most  interesting 
item.  A  laborer  would  have  to  work  three  days  to  get  a  gallon 
of  rum,  then  considered  more  a  necessity  than  molasses,  or  three 
days  for  a  pound  of  tea,  or  two  days  for  a  bushel  of  corn,  or  nearly 
four  days  for  a  pair  of  shoes.  Who  will  say  that  labor  is  not  better 
paid  today?  But  is  the  shoemaker  of  the  factories  today  better 
off  than  the  independent  cordwainer  that  went  from  house  to 
house  in  those  times?  Is  the  sweat-shop  of  modern  tailors  to 
be  preferred  to  the  changing  work-shops  of  those  who  then  made 
clothes?  Have  times  improved?  It  is  the  comparative  inequali- 
ties that  distress  and  oppress  wage-workers. 

From  various  sources,  chiefly  from  the  Revolutionary  Rolls, 
as  published  in  the  State  Papers  of  New  Hampshire,  have  been 
gathered  the  names  of  the  men  from  Durham  and  Lee  who  served 
as  soldiers  in  the  War  for  the  Independence  of  the  Colonies. 

Adams,  Lt-Col.  Winborn  Burnham  Josiah  (Lee) 

Adams,  William,  fifer  Burnham  Edward 

Adams,  Ensign  Samuel  Burnham,  Ensign  James 

Applebei',  Joseph  Burnham  Pike 

Applebee  Thomas  Buss  John 

Branscomb  Arthur  Burnham  Paul 
Adams  Peter  (negro  on  ship  Raleigh)       Burnham  Samuel 

Bennett  Ebenezer  Carson  Robert 

Bickford,  Eliakim  Chesley,  Aaron, 

Bickford  Eli  (Lee)  Chesley,  Col.  Alpheus 

Bickford  Ephraim  (Lee)  Chesley  Ebenezer 

Bickford  Josiah  (Lee)  Chesley  Jonathan 

Bickford  Joseph  Chesley  Samuel 

Bickford  Samuel  Clark  Samuel  Hill 

Blaisdell  Abijah  Clough  John 

Boffe  Jesse  Clough  Samuel 

Bunker  Zacheus  Clough  Lt.  Zacheus 

Bunker  Enoch,  Corp.  Cogan  Patrick 

Burnham  Benjamin  (Lee)  Colbath  Benjamin 


132 


HISTORY   OF    DURHAM 


Colbath  Dependance 
Colbath  Downing 
Colbath  John 
Colkins  John,  Drummer 
Copps  David,  Corp. 
Couch  John 
Critchet  Elias  (Lee) 
Crommit  Moses 
Crommett  James 
Crommett  Philip 
Crommett  Ebenezer 
Crommett  Thomas,  Ens. 
Cromwell  Samuel 
Creecy  William 
Crown  William 
Dame,  John 

Daniels  Eliphalet,  Capt. 
Daniels  Nathaniel  (Lee) 
Davis  David 
Davis  Micah,  Sergt. 
Davis  Clement 

Davis  Philip 

Davis  Thomas 

Davis  Timothy 

Davis  John  (Lee) 

Doe  Jonathan 

Doe  Joshua 

Duda  Lemuel 

Drew  Andrew 

Drew  Zebulon  Lt. 

Drew  Francis 

Drisco  John 

Demeritt  Samuel 

Durgin  Benjamin 

Durgin  David 

Durgin  Joseph 

Durgin  Josiah  (Lee) 

Durgin  Henry 

Durgin  Levi 

Durgin  Philip 

Durgin  Trueworthy  D. 

Durgin  Eliphalet  Lt. 

Dunsmore  Elijah  Capt.  (Lee) 

Dutch  Jeremiah 

Dutch  John 

Edgerly  Sergt.  Thomas 

Edgerly  James 

Emerson  Moses,  Commissary 


Emerson  Capt.  Smith 
Emerson  Timothy 
Fernald  Amos  (Lee) 
Fowler  Philip 
Frost  Nicholas  (Lee) 
Frost  Nathaniel  (Lee) 
Frost  Winthrop  (Lee) 
Footman  Thomas 
Footman  John 
Green,  Corp.  Enoch 
Gerrish  Timothy 
Glidden  Gideon 
Glover  John 
Griffin,  Lt.  John 
Hall  Benjamin  (Lee) 
Hall  Sergt.  James  (Lee) 
Hall  John 

Hicks  Benjamin  (Lee) 
Hill  Wille  (Lee) 

Hill  Thomas  (Lee) 

Hull  John 

Jenkins  Nathaniel  (Lee) 

Johnson  John 

Johnson  Andrew 

Kinnistin  Josiah  (Lee) 

Kynaston  David 

Kent  Robert 

Kent,  Ebenezer 

Langley  David 

Layn  Capt.  John  (Lee) 

Leathers,  Enoch 

Leathers  John 

Leathers  Jonathan 

Leathers  Edward  (Lee) 

Leathers  Thomas 

Leathers  Robert 

Leighton  James 

Leighton,  Lt. Tobias 

Leighton,  John? 

Leighton  Valentine 

Mann  David 

Martin  Dan  (Negro) 

Martin  Sidon  (Lee) 

Mathews  Gideon 

Mallin  Mathew 

McDaniel  James  (Lee) 

Meader  Moses 

Meader  Nicholas 


HISTORY    OF    DURHAM 


*33 


Mitchell  John 

Mooney  Benjamin 

Mooney,  Col.  Hercules 

Mooney  John 

Munsey  Timothy  (Lee) 

Neal  John 

Noble  Stephen 

Noble  John 

Norton  John 

Norton  Thomas 

Pendergast  Edmund 

Perry  Abraham 

Pinder  Sergt.  Jeremiah 

Pinkham  Abijah 

Pinkham  Isaac  (Lee) 

Pinkham  Paul  (Lee) 

Pinkham  Thomas 

Polluck  John 

Pinder  Benjamin 

Rand  David 

Rand  John 

Randall  Joseph 

Rogers  Daniel 

Reynolds  Abraham 

Richards  Bartholomew 

Runnels  Enoch  (Lee) 

Runnels  Capt.  Samuel 

Runnels  Israel  (Lee) 

Runnels  Moses  (Lee) 

Runnels  Stephen 

Runnels  Solomon 

Ryan  James 

Ryan  Michael 

Scales  Samuel  (Lee) 

Scammell,  Gen.  Alexander 

Sawyer  Samuel 

Shaw  Daniel  (Lee) 

Sias  John  (Lee) 

Sias,  Capt.  Benjamin 

Smart  William 

Smith  Benjamin 

Smith  Edward 

Smith  John 

Smith  Joseph 

Small  Benjamin  (Lee) 


Small  Isaac  (Lee) 

Spencer  John 

Starboard,  Ens.  John 

Starboard  Stephen 

Spencer  Abednego 

Spencer  Moses 

Spencer  Robert 

Stevens  John  (Lee) 

Stevens  Nathaniel  (Lee) 

Sullivan,  Gen.  John 

Tashj  Col.  Thomas 

Torr  Vincent 

Thomas,  Lt.  Joseph 

Thomas  Stephen  Jones 

Thomas,  Sergt.  James 

Thompson  James 

Thompson  Samuel 

Thompson  Thomas 

Tobnie  Patrick 

Tucker  Stephen  B. 

Tuttle  Capt.  George 

Tuttle  Nicholas 

Tuttle  Isaac 

Tufts  Henry 

Underwood,  James 

Ward  Samuel 

Wille  Robert 

Wille  Ezekiel 

Wille  Thomas 

Williams  Joseph 

Williams  Jonathan 

Williams  Samuel 

Weeks  Jedediah 

Welch  Benjamin  (Lee) 

Whitten  Mark  (Lee) 

White  James 

Williams  John  (Lee) 

Wigglesworth  Surgeon  Samuel 

Woodman  Lt.  Arch?laus 

Woodman  Edward  Jr. 

Woodman  Sergt.  Joshua 

Yeaton  Samuel 

Young  Jeremy 

York  Samuel 


It  is  impossible  to  trace  the  military  record  and  life  history  of 
all  the  men  of  Durham  who  took  part  in  the  struggle  for  national 


Gen.  John  Sullivan 


HISTORY   OF   DURHAM  1 35 

freedom.  It  would  not  be  fitting,  however,  to  publish  a  history 
of  Durham  without  saying  the  few  words  that  space  permits 
about  some  of  the  soldiers  of  the  Revolution. 

Gen.  John  Sullivan  was  born  in  Berwick,1  Me.,  17  February 
1740,  son  of  the  Irish  schoolmaster,  John  Sullivan,  and  his  wife, 
Margery  Browne.  He  was  educated  mainly  by  his  father  and 
studied  law  with  Judge  Samuel  Livermore  of  Portsmouth,  settling 
in  Durham  as  its  first  lawyer  soon  after  1760.  He  purchased  of 
the  heirs  of  Dr.  Samuel  Adams,  19  December  1764,  the  house 
since  known  as  the  Sullivan  house,  near  the  monument  that  the 
State  erected  to  his  memory.  He  is  mentioned  in  the  town  record 
in  1 77 1,  when  he  was  chosen  overseer  of  the  poor.  He  soon  be- 
came well  known  as  a  lawyer  of  learning,  eloquence  and  forensic 
ability.  Prosperity  enabled  him  to  purchase  the  water  privilege 
at  Packer's  Falls  and  to  erect,  soon  after  1770,  six  mills,  including 
corn-mill,  saw-mill,  fulling-mill,  and  scythe-mill.  We  have  seen 
the  part  he  took  in  the  capture  of  military  stores  at  Fort  William 
and  Mary.  He  was  commissioned  major  in  1772.  He  was  dele- 
gate to  the  Continental  Congress  in  1774  and  1775,  where  he  took 
an  active  part  and  urged  the  declaration  of  independence.  He 
was  appointed  brigadier  general  in  1775  and  served  at  the  siege  of 
Boston,  after  which  he  served  in  the  expedition  to  Canada  and 
conducted  the  retreat.  He  was  promoted  to  be  major  general  29 
July  1776.  He  took  part  in  engagements  about  New  York, 
where  he  was  captured  but  soon  exchanged,  and  in  the  battles  of 
Trenton,  Princeton,  Brandywine  and  Germanton.  He  spent  the 
winter  at  Valley  Forge  and  commanded  the  expedition  to  Rhode 
Island.  He  scourged  out  of  the  Susquehanna  Valley  the  Indian 
murderers  of  Wyoming,  for  which  service  monuments  have  been 
erected  in  his  honor.  Through  impaired  health  and  the  pressing 
needs  of  his  family  he  resigned  his  office,  9  November  1779.  He 
was  again  delegate  to  Congress  in  1780  and  1781.  The  office  of 
attorney  general  was  conferred  upon  him  in  1782  and  was  held 
till  1786.  It  is  remarkable  that  a  son  and  a  grandson  held  the 
same  office.     He  had  a  prominent  part  in  the  formation  of  the 

'The  Rev.  Alonzo  Quint  D.D.,  in  his  oration  at  the  dedication  of  the  Sullivan  monument 
in  Durham,  claims  that  Gen.  John  Sullivan  was  born  in  Somersworth.  The  evidence  seems 
insufficient  to  the  present  writer.  Berwick  points  out  the  exact  spot  where  he  was  born.  In 
1737  the  parish  of  Somersworth  voted  "  that  Mr.  John  Sullivan  be  the  schoolmaster  for  the 
ensuing  year,  voted  John  Sullivan  to  sweep  and  take  care  of  the  meeting  house  &  to  have 
thirty  shillings," — See  Knapp's  Historical  Sketch  of  Somersworth,  p.  28.  This  was  three 
years  before  Gen.  John  Sullivan  was  born. 


HISTORY   OF    DURHAM  1 37 

Constitution  of  New  Hampshire  and  was  thrice  elected  president, 
or  governor,  of  the  state,  1786-87,  1789.  He  was  also  speaker  of 
the  House.  He  was  made  by  President  Washington  first  Judge 
of  the  United  States  District  Court  of  New  Hampshire,  in  which 
office  he  died.  He  was  also  the  first  Grand  Master  of  the  Grand 
Lodge  of  Free  Masons  of  New  Hampshire. 

It  is  of  equal  interest  to  the  inhabitants  of  Durham  to  know 
how  he  served  his  town.  He  was  chosen  agent  for  the  proprietors 
of  Durham,  22  May  1769.  He  was  moderator  of  town  meetings 
eight  times,  1 781-1788,  on  the  Committee  of  Correspondence, 
Inspection  and  Safety,  1 774-1 781,  overseer  of  the  poor,  1771, 
1784,  assessor  and  commissioner,  1788,  on  the  school  committee 
for  the  Falls  District,  1780. 

He  was  the  first  president  of  the  New  Hampshire  branch  of 
the  Society  of  the  Cincinnati,  and  meetings  of  that  society 
were  held  in  Durham  in  the  years  1788-1792. 

The  Sullivan  Lodge  of  Knights  of  Pythias  is  so  named  in  honor 
of   an   illustrious   townsman. 

His  patriotism  and  ability  in  war  and  peace  have  been  recog- 
nized in  the  erection  of  the  monument  in  front  of  his  old  residence, 
27  September  1894,  with  the  following  inscription: 

In  Memory  of 

JOHN   SULLIVAN 

Born  February  17,  1740 

Died  January  23,  1795 

Erected  by  the  state  of  New  Hampshire 

upon  the  site  of  the  Meeting  House 

under  which  was  stored  the  gunpowder 

takon  from  Fort  William  and  Mary. 

The  reader,  doubtless,  will  be  interested  to  see  a  picture  of 
another  monument  that  commemorates  the  victorious  campaign 
of  Gen.  Sullivan  in  the  Susquehanna  Valley.  The  illustration 
is  here  presented  through  the  courtesy  of  the  American  Irish 
Historical  Society,  which  published  a  full  report  of  the  pro- 
ceedings at  the  dedication  of  the  monument.  On  that  occasion, 
Lynde  Sullivan,  Esq.,  of  Boston,  whose  summer  residence  is 
in  the  old  Sullivan  house  in  Durham,  gave  the  principal  his- 
torical address,  in  which  many  interesting  details  are  given  of 


I38  HISTORY    OF   DURHAM 

the  life  of  Gen.  John  Sullivan.    A  noble  poem  was  read  by  Joseph 
I.C.  Clarke,  and  here  is  a  little  sample  of  it: 

I  see  through  a  tangled,  wooded  glen 

The  glint  of  weapons  shine, 

And  a  long  array  of  stalwart  men 

Marching  in  warlike  line. 

They  stretch  'twixt  the  hills  from  crest  to  crest, 

Their  sweat  is  thick  upon  brow  and  breast, 

Their  muskets  trailing  low. 

They  peer  through  the  forests  round  about 

For  pitfalls  of  the  foe. 

Their  horses  tug  at  the  traces  stout 

Of  cannon  rumbling  slow. 

And  swarms  of  boats  and  rustic  floats 

Up  the  babbling  river  come, 

And  I  catch  the  thrilling  of  bugle  notes 

And  the  rolling  of  the  drum. 

On  through  the  thickets  a  way  they  trace; 

They  pause  at  the  river's  bars. 

They  follow  a  man  of  the  Fighting  Race, 

And  he  follows  a  flag  of  stars. 

The  inscription  upon  the  monument  is  as  follows: 

NEAR    THIS    SITE 

SUNDAY   AUGUST    29    1 779   WAS    FOUGHT 

THE    BATTLE    OF   NEWTOWN 

BETWEEN 

CONTINENTAL   TROOPS    COMMANDED    BY 

MAJOR    GENERAL   JOHN    SULLIVAN 

AND   A   COMBINED    FORCE    OF 

TORIES   AND    INDIANS    UNDER 

COLONEL   JOHN    BUTLER 

AND 

JOSEPH    BRANT 

AVENGING   THE   MASSACRE    OF 

WYOMING   AND    CHERRY   VALLEY 

DESTROYING   THE    IROQUOIS    CONFEDERACY 

ENDING    ATTACKS    ON    OUR   SETTLEMENTS 

AND   THEREBY   OPENING 

WESTWARD    THE    PATHWAY    OF   CIVILIZATION. 

Gen.  Alexander  Scammell,  son  of  Dr.  Samuel  Scammell,  who 
came  from  Plymouth,  England,  in  1738,  and  settled  at  Milford, 
Mass.,  was  born  in  1744.  He  graduated  at  Harvard,  in  1769. 
He  taught  school  at  Kingston,  Mass.,  in  1770,  at  Plymouth, 
Mass.,  in  1771  and  at  Berwick,  Me.,  in  1772.  For  a  year  he  was 
employed  as  a  surveyor  in  exploring  the  territory  of  Maine  and 


Newtown  Battlefield  Monument 
Elmira,  New  York.      Dedicated  August  29th,  1912 

Illustration  by  the  courtesy  of  the  American  Irish  Historical  Society 
Reproduction  by  Anna  Frances  Levins 


I40  HISTORY    OF    DURHAM 

New  Hampshire,  and  was  one  of  the  proprietors  of  Shapleigh,  Me. 
He  then  became  a  student  in  the  law  office  of  Maj.  John  Sullivan 
at  Durham.  The  will  of  Samuel  Meaderof  Durham  was  witnessed 
in  the  law  office  of  Gen.  John  Sullivan,  18  May,  1773,  by  John 
Smith,  Alexander  Scammell  and  Jnn  Sullivan.  He  is  first  men- 
tioned in  the  records  of  Durham  as  one  of  the  committee  to  apply 


Gen.  Alexander  Scammell 

the  Association  Test,  28  November  1774.  Tradition  says  that  he 
pulled  down  the  flag  at  the  capture  of  Fort  William  and  Mary, 
December  1774.  He  was  at  the  battle  of  Bunker  Hill  as  brigade 
major  and  served  under  Gen.  Sullivan  in  the  siege  of  Boston.  He 
was  promoted  to  deputy  adjutant-general  in  1776.  He  crossed 
the  Delaware  in  the  same  boat  with  Washington  as  his  special  aid, 
and  took  part  in  the  battles  of  Trenton,  Princeton  and  Saratoga. 


HISTORY    OF    DURHAM  141 

In  the  campaign  against  Gen.  Burgoyne  he  was  colonel  of  the 
First  and  then  of  the  Third  New  Hampshire  troops  and  was  by 
the  side  of  Lieut-Col.  Winborn  Adams  when  he  fell  at  Bemis 
Heights.  He  himself  had  been  wounded  yet  kept  the  field  and 
witnessed  the  surrender  of  Burgoyne.  In  1778  he  was  commis- 
sioned adjutant-general  of  the  army.  At  the  battle  of  Monmouth 
he  was  aid  to  Washington,  rallied  the  troops  and  led  the  charge. 
Washington  said  of  him,  "The  man  who  inspired  us  all  to  do  our 
full  duty  was  Alexander  Scammell."  He  commanded  the  Light 
Infantry  in  the  march  into  Virginia,  was  wounded  and  captured 
at  the  battle  of  Yorktown  and  died  of  his  wound  six  days  after, 
6  October  1781,  aged  35.     He  was  buried  at  Williamsburg,  Va. 

He  was  six  feet  and  two  inches  in  stature,  of  fine  proportions, 
graceful  and  attractive,  full  of  ardor,  courage  and  perseverance, 
a  favorite  with  Washington,  popular  with  the  officers,  honorably 
remembered  by  Lafayette.  His  was  a  brief,  brilliant  and  noble 
career,  and  it  reflects  honor  on  the  town  where  he  lived  and  loved. 
Some  permanent  memorial  erected  in  Durham  is  due  him.  The 
Scammell  Grange  is  named  in  honor  of  him  and  thus  honors  itself 
also. 

The  following  letter,  written  to  Maj.  John  Sullivan,  then  in 
the  Continental  Congress,  well  shows  the  quality  of  Scammell's 
heart  and  mind,  as  well  as  the  commotion  caused  at  Durham  by 
news  of  the  battle  of  Lexington : 

Portsmouth,  N.  H.,  May  3,  1775. 
Honoured  Sir:  Your  leaving  New  Hampshire  at  a  time  when  your  presence 
was  so  extremely  necessary  to  cherish  the  glorious  ardour  which  you  have  been 
so  instrumental  in  inspiring  us  with,  spread  a  general  gloom  in  Durham,  and  in 
some  measure  damped  the  spirit  of  liberty  through  the  Province;  and  nothing 
but  the  important  business  in  which  you  are  imbarked  would  induce  us  to  dis- 
pense with  your  presence  with  any  degree  of  patience  or  resignation. 

But  when  the  horrid  din  of  civil  carnage  surprised  us  on  the  20th  of  April  the 
universal  cry  was — Oh  if  Major  Sullivan  was  here!  I  wish  to  God  Major 
Sullivan  was  here!  ran  through  the  distressed  multitude. 

April  court  which  was  then  sitting  adjourned  immediately.  To  arms!  to 
arms!  was  breathed  forth  in  sympathetick  groans. 

I  went  express  to  Boston,  by  desire  of  the  Congressional  committee,  then 
sitting  at  Durham,  proceeded  as  far  as  Bradford,  where  I  obtained  credible 
information  that  evening.  Next  morning  I  arrived  at  Exeter,  where  the 
Provincial  Congress  was  assembling  with  all  possible  haste.  There  I  reported 
what  intelligence  I  had  gained;  that  the  American  army  at  Cambridge,  Woburn 
and  Charlestown  was  more  in  need  of  provisions  than  men;  that  fifty  thousand 
had  assembled  in  thirty-six  hours;  and  that  the  Regulars,  who  had  retreated 
from  Concord,  had  encamped  on  Bunker's  Hill  in  Charlestown. 


142 


HISTORY    OF    DURHAM 


The  Congress,  upon  this  report,  resolved  that  the  Durham  company,  then 
at  Exeter  (armed  completely  for  an  engagement,  with  a  week's  provisions} 
should  return  home  and  keep  themselves  in  constant  readiness.  All  the  men 
being  gone  from  the  westward  and  southward  of  Newmarket  and  men-of-war 
expected  hourly  into  Portsmouth,  it  was  with  the  greatest  difficulty  your  Dur- 
ham soldiers  were  prevailed  upon  to  return.  Six  or  seven  expresses  arrived  at 
Durham  the  night  after  our  return;  some  desiring  us  to  march  to  Kittery ;  some 
to  Hampton;  some  to  Ipswich,  etc.,  which  places,  they  said  sundry  men-of-war 
were  ravaging.     The  whole  country  was  in  a  continual  alarm,  but  suspecting. 


that  the  marines  at  Portsmouth  might  take  advantage  of  the  confusion  we 
were  in  and  pay  Durham  a  visit,  we  thought  proper  to  stand  ready  to  give  them 
a  warm  reception  and  supposing  that  your  house  and  family  would  be  the 
first  mark  of  their  vengeance,  although  I  had  been  express  the  whole  night  be- 
fore, I  kept  guard  to  defend  your  family  and  substance  to  the  last  drop  of  my 
blood.  Master  Smith  being  under  the  same  apprehensions,  did  actually  lay 
in  ambush  behind  a  warehouse  and  came  very  near  sinking  a  fishing  boat 
anchored  off  the  river,  which  he  supposed  heaped  full  of  marines.  Menr 
women  and  children  were  engaged  day  and  night  in  preparing  for  the  worst. 

Many  towns  in  this  Province  have  enlisted  minute-men  and  keep  them 
under  pay;  and  the  Congress  before  this  would  actually  have  raised  an  army 


HISTORY    OF    DURHAM  I43. 

had  they  not  waited  for  the  General  Court  which  sits  tomorrow,  in  order  to 
raise  as  much  money  as  they  can  to  pay  off  their  army  when  raised. 

I  am  extremely  mortified  that  I  am  unable  to  join  the  army  at  Cambridge. 
The  particulars  of  the  skirmish  between  the  Regulars  and  the  Americans  will, 
long  before  this,  have  reached  you. 

In  longing  expectation  your  safe,  happy  and  speedy  return  is  hoped  for  by 
all  your  friends  but  by  none  more  sincerely  than 

Your  dutiful  humble  servant, 

Alex.  Scammell. 
To  John  Sullivan  at  Philadelphia  or  New  York. 

Col.  Hercules  Mooney  is  said  to  have  been  a  tutor  in  the  family 
of  a  nobleman  in  Ireland.  A  person  of  his  name  was  in  Trinity 
College,  Dublin,  in  1732.  He  is  described  as  a  "tall,  stately 
man."  He  came  to  America  in  1733  and  began  teaching  in 
Somersworth.  He  signed  the  petition  to  make  Madbury  a  parish 
in  1743.  He  removed  to  Durham,  where  he  taught  from  1751  to 
1766.  He  received  a  captain's  commission  in  1757  and  took 
part  in  the  Crown  Point  Expedition,  being  captured  and  robbed 
when  Fort  William  Henry  was  taken.  Was  selectman  in  Durham 
in  1765.  After  the  separation  of  Lee  he  taught  in  that  town  and 
was  selectman  there,  1769-75,  and  represented  Lee  several  times 
in  the  General  Assembly.  March  14,  1766  he  was  appointed 
major  in  Col.  David  Gilman's  regiment,  and  on  the  29th  of  Sep- 
tember was  promoted  to  be  lieutenant-colonel  and  marched  to- 
Ticonderoga  with  his  regiment.  June  23,  1778  he  was  appointed 
colonel  in  the  expedition  to  Rhode  Island.  He  served  on  the 
Committee  of  Safety  in  Lee,  was  a  justice  of  the  peace  and  a 
grantee  of  Holderness,  whither  he  removed  in  1785.  Here  also 
he  was  selectman  and  representative  four  times.  He  died  in 
April  1800,  and  was  buried  on  his  farm  about  a  third  of  a  mile 
from  Ashland  village,  under  a  willow  tree.  The  farm  is  now 
owned  by  Samuel  H.  Baker.  A  rough  slab  marks  his  grave. 
His  sons,  Benjamin  and  John,  served  in  the  Revolutionary  Army,, 
the  former  as  lieutenant.  Col.  Hercules  Mooney  was  one  of 
Ireland's  many  precious  gifts  to  young  America,  a  leader  in 
thought  and  activity,  a  moulder  of  character  in  the  training  of 
youth,  a  wise  builder  of  the  Granite  State,  a  valiant  commander  in 
battle,  a  peaceful  and  highly  useful  citizen  in  the  towns  he  served. 

Col.  Thomas  Tash,  born  5  July  1722,  was  of  a  family  that  came 
from  near  Belfast,  Ireland,  according  to  tradition.  The  original 
name  was  Mclntash.  His  father  was  Jacob  Tash,  who  married 
(2)  Patience,  daughter  of  James  and  Mary  (Smith)  Thomas,  in 


1-14  HISTORY   OF    DURHAM 

1727.  Col.  Tash  married  (1)  Mrs.  Anne  Parsons,  the  wealthy 
widow  of  Capt.  Parsons  of  Portsmouth,  (2)  Martha,  daughter 
of  Joshua  and  Elizabeth  (Kenniston)  Crommett.  He  appeals 
in  a  scouting  party,  under  Samuel  Miller  in  1744.  He  was 
a  captain  in  1758,  in  the  French  and  Indian  War.  September 
17,  1776,  he  was  appointed  colonel  of  a  regiment  that  served  near 
New  York.  He  removed  to  New  Durham  in  1783  being  one  of 
the  original  proprietors  and  their  clerk  in  1765.  His  children 
were  Thomas,  James,  Jacob,  William,  Martha,  Betsey,  Mary 
who  married  Josiah  Edgerly  12  July  1793,  and  Patience.  Col. 
Tash  died  in  October  1809,  aged  87  years. 

He  lived  for  a  time  in  Newmarket  being  engaged  in  trading 
and  shipping  and  represented  that  town  in  the  legislature  in 
1776.  He  erected  the  first  saw-  and  grist-mill  in  New  Durham. 
He  was  taxed  for  real  estate  in  Durham  as  late  as  1 783.  He  repre- 
sented New  Durham,  Wolfeboro,  etc.,  in  the  legislature  in  1778. 
He  was  a  justice  of  the  peace  and  actively  engaged  in  manu- 
factures and  agriculture,  a  busy  leader  in  stirring  times. 

Lieut. -Col.  Winborn  Adams  was  born  in  Durham,  son  of  Dr. 
Samuel  Adams,  grandson  of  the  Rev.  Hugh  Adams.  He  was, 
doubtless,  named  for  his  uncle,  Winborn  Adams,  a  schoolmaster, 
who  died  in  1736,  thus  perpetuating  the  maiden  name  of  his 
grandmother,  Susanna  Winborn.  He  is  often  mentioned  in 
the  records  of  Durham  as  surveyor  of  lumber  and  innholder. 
The  house  he  built  and  used  for  an  inn  stands  on  the  south  side 
of  the  road,  opposite  the  Sullivan  monument.  He  was  at  the 
capture  of  the  military  stores  at  Fort  William  and  Mary,  Decem- 
ber 1774,  and  was  commissioned  captain  of  the  first  company 
raised  in  Durham  for  the  Revolutionary  Army.  He  was  pro- 
moted to  be  major  in  1776  and  lieutenant-colonel  2  April  1777. 
He  commanded  the  Second  New  Hampshire  Regiment  at  the 
battle  of  Stillwater,  called  also  the  battle  of  Bemis  Heights,  and 
fell  mortally  wounded,  19  September  1777.  His  name  was  long 
perserved  in  several  branches  of  allied  families.  He  seems  to 
have  been  a  brave  and  popular  man.  He  was  a  member  of  the 
lodge  of  St.  John  (Portsmouth)  of  Free  and  Accepted  Masons, 
and  so  also  were  Gen.  Sullivan  and  Gen.  Scammell.  In  a  deed 
dated  1756  he  is  called  "Chirurgeon." 

He  married  Sarah  Bartlett  and  she  continued  to  keep  the  inn 
for  some  time  after  her  husband's  death,  and  town  meetings 
were  held  at  her  house.    The  following  petition  may  be  of  interest : 


HISTORY   OF   DURHAM 


145 


To  the  Honh<«  the  Council  and  House  of  Representatives  of  the  State  of 
New  Hampshire.  Gentlemen,  Your  Petitioner  humbly  sheweth  that  her  Hus- 
band late  Lt.  Col°  Adams  of  the  2^  New  Hampshire  Regt  fell  in  battle  on  the 
memorable  19th  of  Sept  1777,  and  left  her  a  helpless  widow  destitute  of  the 
means  of  procuring  a  Livelihood  as  her  sole  dependence  was  on  her  Husbands 
pay,  her  only  son  having  been  ever  since  in  the  service  of  this  state. — That  it 
has  been  with  extreme  difficulty  she  has  since  procured  a  scanty  subsistence  with 
her  own  industry  &  the  Charities  of  her  friends. — That  she  has  delay'd  peti- 
tioning hitherto  in  hopes  that  the  Hon*>ie  Legislature  of  the  State  would  have 
made  a  general  provision  for  the  mourning  widows  &  helpless  orphans  of  those 
who  fell  in  defence  of  the  Liberty  &:  Property  of  their  Friends  &  Country. — 


Lieut. -Col.  Winborn  Adams'  Inn 


But  that  she  is  compelled  to  the  disagreeable  Necessity  of  imploring  the  as- 
sistance of  that  Country  in  defence  of  which  her  late  husband  fell,  and  humbly 
requesting  that  the  Hont>le  Legislature  would  grant  her  the  half  pay  of  her 
late  husband  or  such  other  allowance  as  they  in  their  superior  Wisdom  shall 
think  proper,  so  as  to  raise  her  above  the  pinching  hand  of  poverty  and  enable 
her  to  support  a  Life  rendered  melancholly  and  unhappy.  And  your  Petitioner 
as  in  Duty  Bound  will  ever  pray  &c. 
[N.  H.  Town  Papers,  XI,  596.]  Sarah  Adams. 

Samuel    Adams,    only    son    of    Lieut. -Col.    Winborn    Adams' 
served  as  lieutenant  under  Gen.  John  Sullivan  in  the  campaign 

10 


I46  HISTORY    OF    DURHAM 

against  the  Indians  and  was  after  the  war  lieutenant-colonel  in 
the  militia. 

Capt.  Smith  Emerson  served  in  Col.  Wingate's  regiment  at 
Seavey's  Island.  This  company  was  enlisted  in  October  1775. 
It  served  also  at  the  siege  of  Boston  and  was  discharged  in  March 
1776.  He  was  appointed  captain  of  Company  Six  in  Col.  Thomas 
Tash's  regiment  which  was  raised  in  September  1776  and  sent  to 
New  York  to  aid  the  Continental  Army.  His  commission  was 
signed  by  Gen.  Washington,  under  whom  his  regiment  served, 
taking  an  active  part  in  the  battles  of  Trenton  and  Princeton. 
Capt.  Emerson  settled  in  Lee,  where  he  was  one  of  the  selectmen. 

Capt.  John  Layn  was  living  in  Durham  as  early  as  8  March 
1760,  when  he  enlisted  in  Capt.  Samuel  Gerrish's  company, 
Col.  John  Goff's  regiment,  for  the  Canada  expedition.  John 
Layn,  gunsmith,  of  Durham,  in  a  petition  of  26  May  1761, 
states  that  he  was  employed  as  armorer  for  that  regiment  and 
furnished  his  own  tools,  but  had  received  no  extra  pay  for  this 
service.  He  was  allowed  four  pounds  sterling.  [See  N.  H.  Town 
Papers,  XI,  581.] 

He  was  appointed  captain  in  Col.  John  Waldron's  regiment, 
6  March  1776,  for  six  weeks  of  service  at  Winter  Hill. 

He  lived  in  Durham  village  where  now  resides  Hon.  Joshua 
B.  Smith.  He  acquired  land  at  Newtown,  in  what  is  now  Lee, 
in  1763  and  1766,  and  established  the  first  inn  in  that  town. 
The  old  signboard,  bearing  the  name  of  Washington  and  the 
date  1779,  is  still  to  be  seen,  but  the  painting  of  Washington 
on  horseback  has  been  effaced  therefrom  by  the  elements.  He 
owned  mills  at  Newtown,  where  he  was  living  in  1790.  He  died 
before  12  May  1811,  when  his  son,  John,  was  appointed  adminis- 
trator of  his  estate.  Descendants  of  the  name  still  live  in  that 
vicinity. 

Col.  Alpheus  Chelsey,  born  in  Durham,  was  one  of  the  party 
that  went  to  Fort  William  and  Mary  in  December  1774.  He  was 
recommended  to  the  authorities  as  captain,  in  1775,  by  Gen. 
John  Sullivan.  He  had  orders  to  enlist  a  company  of  61  able 
bodied  men,  2  December  1775,  to  serve  under  Washington.  He 
appears  as  lieutenant-colonel  in  Col.  John  Waldron's  regiment 
6  March  1776.  He  is  repeatedly  called  colonel  in  the  records  of 
Durham.  He  married  Deborah  Meserve  and  died  in  Barnstead 
in  1792. 


HISTORY    OF    DURHAM  147 

Andrew  Drew  was  born  in  Dover  25  March  1758,  and  died  at 
Durham  Point,  19  December  1854.  At  age  of  18  he  enlisted  in 
Capt.  Caleb  Hodgdon's  company,  in  Col.  Joshua  Wingate's 
regiment,  stationed  on  Seavey's  Island  in  December  1775.  He 
took  part  in  the  expedition  to  Rhode  Island  and  was  in  the 
battle  of  Newport.  He  served  nine  months  in  Capt.  Peter 
Drown's  company,  Col.  Stephen  Peabody's  regiment.  He  re- 
ceived a  bounty  from  the  town  of  Durham  and  was  a  pensioner 
from  1836  till  the  time  of  his  death.  He  was  buried  in  the  Smith 
cemetery,  near  the  south  shore  of  the  mill-pond. 

Samuel  Demeritt  was  born  17  June  1756.  He  enlisted  in  Capt. 
Winborn  Adams'  company,  2  June  1775  and  served  near  Boston. 
In  1776  he  was  on  the  roll  of  Capt.  William  McDuffee's  company, 
Col.  Tash's  regiment,  and  probably  joined  the  army  in  New  York. 
He  entered  the  naval  service  and  was  on  the  ship  Raleigh  as  a 
marine,  time  of  entry  31  July  1777,  stature,  five  feet,  eight  inches 
and  three  fourths.  He  died  1  November  1801  at  Wednesday 
Hill,  Lee.     [See  Genealogical  Notes.] 

Henry  Durgin  was  a  private  in  the  Eighth  Company,  Second 
regiment  in  1 780-1 78 1,  having  enlisted  for  the  war.  Supplies 
were  furnished  him  by  the  town  in  1781.  He  certified,  30  Jan- 
uary 1786,  that  he  was  a  soldier  from  Durham  in  Capt.  Fogg's 
company  and  was  wounded  in  one  foot  "when  at  home  on  a  fur- 
lough in  the  year  1782  &  that  Doctr  Nathaniel  Kidder  of  New- 
market had  the  care  of  the  wound  until  it  was  healed."  [N.  H. 
Town  Papers,  XI,  591.] 

James  Leigh  ton  was  born  in  Dover  12  October  1749  and  died 
22  February  1824.  He  was  buried  in  the  village  cemetery  at 
Durham.  He  was  a  tailor  by  trade,  and  enlisted  in  Capt.  Win- 
born  Adams'  company  in  1775  and  remained  in  service  during 
1776.  Afterward  he  entered  the  naval  service  and  served  three 
years  under  Commodore  John  Paul  Jones,  on  the  Ranger  and  on 
the  Bon  Homme  Richard.  He  was  one  of  the  marines  who  took 
the  plate  from  Lord  Selkirke  on  the  coast  of  Ireland,  and  when  it 
was  ordered  to  be  returned  he  was  one  of  the  party  sent  to  deliver 
it.  He  was  quick  tempered,  fearless  and  always  ready  for 
adventure. 

Lieut.  Tobias  Leigh  ton,  born  in  Dover  9  May  1736,  enlisted 
as  sergeant  in  same  company  as  his  brother,  James.  Was  lieu- 
tenant   19    September    1776    and    marched    with    Col.    Long's 


I48  HISTORY    OF   DURHAM 

regiment  to  Ticonderoga.  He  married  Ann  Tuttle  and  died  in 
Madbury,  in  18 12.     [See  Genealogical  Notes.] 

Valentine  Leigh  ton  of  Durham  was  mustered  into  Col.  Moon- 
ey's  regiment  I  July  1779.  He  was  in  the  expedition  to  Rhode 
Island  serving  five  months  and  twenty  days.  He  afterwards  en- 
listed for  the  war  and  2  June  1781  was  in  Capt.  Rowell's  company, 
in  Col.  Reid's  regiment.  He  married,  15  April  1784,  Sally  Wille, 
who  was  buried  3  February  1785.  An  only  child  was  buried  14 
November  1785. 

Lieut.  John  Griffin  was  born  at  Gloucester,  Mass.,  25  July  1740. 
He  was  lieutenant  in  Capt.  Winborn  Adams'  company,  in  1775. 
He  married,  18  May  1767,  Hannah  Gerrish  of  Berwick,  Me., 
born  20  June  1746.  She  died  11  March  1830.  The  following 
children  were  recorded  in  Durham:  Adoniram,  born  28  March 
1768,  married  18  August  1799,  Ruth  Currier,  and  died  20  June 
1851;  Nancy,  born  5  November  1769,  married  Isaac  Chesley, 
Jr.,  17  November  1796;  Hannah,  born  18  September  1771, 
died  young;  William,  born  13  October  1772,  died  young;  William, 
born  6  April  1774;  Winborn,  born  13  October  1776;  Mary,  born 
23  September  1780;  and  John,  born  17  June  1782,  published  to 
Keziah  Jenkins  of  Lee,  18  November  1806.  Lieut.  Griffin  died 
in  1788  and  was  buried  in  Durham.  He  is  called  captain  in 
1782  and  was  selectman  1782-87.  In  the  taxlist  of  1787  he  is 
"Col.  John  Griffin." 

Ens.  John  Starbird,  born  7  February  1755,  was  the  son  of 
Lieut.  John  Starbird,  who  died  17  October  1811,  aged  87  years, 
eight  months,  a  soldier  in  the  French  and  Indian  Wars.  He 
enlisted  as  corporal  in  Capt.  Winborn  Adams'  company,  1775. 
He  appears  as  ensign  in  Capt.  Caleb  Hodgdon's  company, 
Col.  Pierce  Long's  regiment  25  September  1776.  His  company 
was  stationed  at  Portsmouth  and  marched  to  Ticonderoga  in 
1777.  After  the  war  he  was  made  lieutenant  and  was  a  pensioner. 
He  lived  not  far  from  the  old  railroad  station  and  was  a  shoe- 
maker. He  died  17  October  1841  and  is  buried  in  the  village 
cemetery,  without  a  gravestone.  His  wife,  Rebecca,  died  9 
February  1825,  aged  68.  Their  children  were  Sally,  who  married 
Stephen  Hodgdon  in  1810;  Lois,  who  married  (i)  Calvin  Picker- 
ing,  (2)  Hazen,   (3)  Levi  Cram;  Stephen,  who  married 

(1)  Tamsen  Nute  who  died  24  February  1848,  (2)  Caroline 
(Teague)  Davis,  widow  of  Daniel  Davis.     Stephen  Starbird  died 


HISTORY   OF   DURHAM  1 49 

15  December  1869,  aged  81  years,  8  months.  Other  sons  of  Ens. 
John  Starbird  were  John,  who  married  23  December  1836,  Olive, 
daughter  of  Edward  Winslow  Emerson,  and  Samuel,  a  sea  captain 
in  merchant  service,  who  died  15  November  1825,  aged  44  years. 
All  the  sons  took  part  in  the  War  of  1812,  Stephen  on  the  Canada 
frontier,  and  John  and  Samuel  in  the  privateer  service. 

Samuel  Scales  was  born  in  Durham,  1754.  He  was  a  private 
in  Capt.  Smith  Emerson's  company,  5  November  1775,  enlisting 
from  Lee.  He  died  in  March,  1778.  His  wife  was  Hannah  Lang- 
ley,  who  married  (2)  1784  Samuel  Hill  of  Loudon,  N.  H.  Samuel 
Scales  was  buried  in  the  old  town  cemetery  in  Lee.  A  common 
field  stone,  with  the  initials  S.  S.,  marks  his  grave.  A  posthu- 
mous son,  Samuel,  was  born  April,  1778. 

Samuel  Thompson  was  born  in  Durham  about  1755.  He  served 
seven  years  in  the  Revolutionary  Army,  eighteen  months  in  Col. 
Poor's  regiment  and  five  years  in  Maj.  Whitcomb's  rangers.  In 
1820  he  was  living  in  Sandwich,  N.  H.,  aged  64.  He  then  had  a 
wife,  aged  50,  and  daughter,  aged  13.  He  was  a  farmer  and 
much  troubled  with  rheumatism. 

James  Thompson,  brother  to  the  above,  son  of  James  and 
Mary  (Clark)  Thompson,  was  in  Capt.  Winborn  Adams'  company 
in  1775,  then  aged  26.     He  served  three  years  in  the  army. 

Vincent  Torr  enlisted  at  the  age  of  17  in  Capt.  Winborn  Adams' 
company,  20  July  1775,  and  served  at  Winter  Hill,  Mass.  He 
reenlisted  for  three  years,  8  February  1777,  in  Capt.  Frederick 
M.  Bell's  company,  Col.  Hale's  regiment.  He  was  at  Ticonder- 
roga  and  in  the  battle  of  Stillwater,  or  Bemis  Heights,  and  wintered 
at  Valley  Forge.  Died  in  Newmarket,  11  May  1829.  [See 
Genealogical  Notes.] 

Samuel  Williams  was  on  the  muster  roll  of  Lieut.  Piper's 
company,  at  Portsmouth  in  1780.  He  enlisted  20  July  of  that 
year  for  six  months.  He  or  his  family  received  supplies  from 
Durham,  March  1778  and  onward  till  1781.  His  wife's  name  was 
Sobriety  (Bamford?).  He  was  of  Barnstead  in  1781  as  a  recruit 
for  Durham. 

Lemuel  B.  Mason,  son  of  Robert  and  Susanna  (Bickford) 
Mason,  was  born  in  Durham,  February  1759.  He  was  an  infant 
when  his  father  died  and  was  but  sixteen  years  old  when  he  en- 
listed, probably  from  Newington,  soon  after  the  battle  of  Bunker 
Hill.     He  remained  in  the  army  eight  years,  till  the  proclamation 


150  HISTORY   OF    DURHAM 

of  peace.  He  participated  in  the  battles  of  Trenton,  Princeton, 
Monmouth,  and  Stillwater.  He  was  present  at  the  surrender  of 
Burgoyne  and  was  with  Gen.  Sullivan  in  his  expedition  against 
the  Indians.  His  captain  taught  him  to  read  and  write  and  he 
became  sergeant,  clerk  and  lieutenant.  In  leading  scouting 
parties  against  the  Indians  he  had  bullets  put  through  his  coat 
and  hat  but  was  never  wounded.  Once  he  saved  himself  by 
hiding  in  a  hollow  log  all  night.  He  returned  to  Newington 
penniless  and  despoiled  of  his  inheritance.  Here  he  married  (i) 
Sarah  Nutter,  who  died  childless.  He  married  (2)  16  November 
1786  Mary  Chamberlain  in  New  Durham  and  had  thirteen  chil- 
dren. He  removed  from  New  Durham  to  Alton,  where  he  served 
several  years  as  selectman,  and  thence  to  Gilford.  He  served 
one  year  as  captain  in  the  War  of  1812.  He  lived  at  Gilford 
many  years,  receiving  in  old  age  a  pension  of  $320.  He  had  a 
justice's  commission  in  1838.  He  died  in  Moultonborough,  30 
March  1851,  aged  92  years,  2  months.  His  wife  died  4  February 
1 85 1,  aged  82  years. 

David  Davis,  born  25  August  1760,  was  a  pensioner.  He 
served  in  Capt.  Archelaus  Woodman's  company,  Col.  John 
Waldron's  regiment  in  January  1776.  In  August  of  that  year 
he  enlisted  in  Capt.  Smith  Emerson's  company,  Col.  Thomas 
Tash's  regiment,  and  in  December  of  the  same  yearTie  was  in 
Capt.  Samuel  Wallingford's  company,  Col.  David  Gilman's 
regiment.  In  August  1777  he  again  entered  service  as  private 
in  Capt.  George  Tuttle's  company,  Col.  Stephen  Evans'  regi- 
ment, which  took  part  in  the  battle  of  Saratoga.  In  June  1778 
he  enlisted  for  eight  months  in  Capt.  Stephen  Jenkins'  company, 
Col.  Thomas  Poor's  regiment.  In  July  1779  he  enlisted  for  the 
sixth  time  in  Capt.  Samuel  Runnels'  company,  Col.  Hercules 
Mooney's  regiment.  He  died  at  Packer's  Falls,  19  November 
1835. 

The  War  of  1812. 

The  War  of  1812  called  but  few  soldiers  from  Durham  and  led 
to  the  building  of  two  privateers.  The  following,  who  served 
in  that  war,  are  buried  in  the  village  cemetery;  Joseph  P.  Burn- 
ham,  Zachariah  Bunker,  George  Hull,  Capt.  Joseph  Richardson, 
Capt.  Alfred  Smith,  Stephen  Starbird  and  Rufus  Willey.  Burn- 
ham  and  Bunker  married  twin  sisters,  Esther  and  Mercy  Varney, 


HISTORY   OF   DURHAM  151 

and  both  served  in  the  same  company.  Bunker  was  wounded 
at  Fort  Erie  in  upper  Canada  by  the  bursting  of  a  shell  and  had 
to  have  his  left  leg  amputated.  He  drew  a  pension  of  $8  per 
month,  which  was  later  increased  to  $15.  He  lived  between 
the  Ffrost  house  and  the  landing,  at  the  Falls.  George  Hull 
was  confined  for  a  time  in  Dartmoor  prison,  England.  He  was 
captured  on  board  a  privateer. 

The  privateer  Harlequin  was  built  in  Durham,  near  the  Pas- 
cataqua  bridge,  by  Andrew  Simpson.  It  was  built  of  good  white 
oak,  one  hundred  and  four  feet  in  length  of  deck,  and  pierced  for 
twenty-two  guns.  The  cost  was  $25  per  ton,  carpenter's  measure- 
ment, and  most  of  the  seventy-five  shares  were  taken  by  people 
in  Portsmouth.  The  Harlequin  was  captured  21  October  1814, 
after  about  two  years  of  service.  Also  the  privateer,  Andrew 
Jackson,  was  built  by  Mr.  Simpson  but  delivered  too  late,  24 
August  18 15,  to  be  of  service  in  the  war. 

The  military  rolls  of  1812-15  contain  the  names  of  Durham  men 
who  served  from  the  nth  to  the  28th  of  September  1814,  when 
it  was  feared  that  the  British  forces  would  attempt  the  capture 
of  Portsmouth.  In  the  roll  of  Capt.  John  Willey's  company 
appear  the  names  of  Ebenezer  Cromit,  first  lieutenant,  and  pri- 
vate Stephen  Bodge,  who  both  served  sixty  days.  In  Capt. 
Andrew  Nute's  company  are  found  the  names  of  Moses  Emerson 
3d,  Joseph  Burnham,  Ely  Demeritt,  Eben  Demeritt  and  Stephen 
Demeritt,  the  last  three  probably  from  Madbury,  who  served 
sixty  days.  In  Capt.  William  Wiggin's  company  are  found 
Lieut.  Stephen  Paul,  Ens.  Larkin  P.  Edgerly;  Sergts.  Ebenezer 
Doe,  Mark  Willey,  Robert  Furness,  and  James  Willey,  Jr.; 
Corporals  Stephen  Willey,  Daniel  Cram,  David  Rand;  Supply 
Johnson,  and  Musicians  Francis  Drew  and  Joseph  Ellison.  The 
privates  in  the  same  company  were  Thomas  Chesley,  Benjamin 
Doe,  William  French,  Samuel  Stacey,  Jonathan  Dockhum, 
Joshua  Drew,  Joseph  Applebee,  Jacob  K.  Watson,  George  Wood- 
man, Hervey  Presson,  Samuel  Drew,  Joseph  Thomas,  Jr.,  Eliot 
Burnham,  Samuel  Savage,  Daniel  Willey,  Robert  Willey,  George 
Libby,  John  Burnham,  Nathaniel  Ham,  Phineas  Willey,  Asa 
Durgin,  Timothy  Pendergast,  Jacob  Garland,  Daniel  Pinkham, 
Joseph  Langley,  David  Davis,  Noah  Willey,  Samuel  Edgerly, 
William  Smith,  Stephen  Cogan,  Nathan  Keniston,  Joseph  Doe 
and   John   Downing. 


152  HISTORY   OF    DURHAM 

In  Capt.  Alfred  Smith's  company  are  found  the  names  of 
1st  Lieut.  George  Hull,  2d  Lieut.  Nathan  Woodman,  3d  Lieut. 
Benjamin  Dame,  Sergts.  George  Dame,  Stephen  Twombly, 
Daniel  Young,  Henry  Wiggin,  John  Yeaton  and  Moses  Wood- 
man, Corporals,  Jacob  Odell,  James  Durgin,  John  Pinkham, 
George  Frost,  Jr.,  and  Musicians  Francis  Butler,  Moses 
Hanscom  and  Edward  Mason.  The  privates  in  the  same 
company  were  Benjamin  Tuttle,  Bradbury  Thomas,  Daniel 
Edgerly,  Ebenezer  Joy,  Enoch  Holt,  Enoch  Durgin,  Jacob  Ben- 
nett, Jeremiah  Elliot,  James  Smart,  Levi  Thompson,  Willet 
Wedgewood,  Samuel  Chesley,  Timothy  Emerson,  Thomas  James, 
Samuel  Mathews,  William  Footman,  Edward  Griffiths,  John  P. 
Jones,  Reuben  French,  James  Pendergast,  Daniel  Lakin,  Samuel 
Lamos,  Adoniran  Grffiin,  John  Smith,  Daniel  Taylor  and  John 
Bean.     This  was,  without  doubt,  a  Durham  company. 

Nathaniel  Sias  of  Newmarket,  born  in  Durham,  appears  as 
major  of  the  Fourth  Regiment  in  18 14.  Ebenezer  Cromit  was 
adjutant,  inspector  and  brigade  major  of  detached  battalion. 
Col.  George  Sullivan,  son  of  Gen.  John  Sullivan,  appears  as 
aide. 

Some  Durham  names  appear  in  Capt.  Charles  E.  Tobey's 
company,  such  as  Stephen  Starbird,  Joseph  Burnham,  Joshua 
Chesley  and  James  Chesley. 

The  Civil  War. 

Just  now  the  Sons  and  Daughters  of  the  American  Revolution 
are  glorifying  their  ancestors.  The  time  may  come  when  the 
descendants  of  those  who  fought  for  the  preservation  of  the  great 
American  republic  will  be  equally  proud  of  their  ancestry.  It  is 
fitting  that  a  record  of  the  soldiers  of  the  Union  Army  should  be 
preserved,  though  little  more  than  their  names  can  be  mentioned 
here.  There  seems  to  be  good  evidence  that  the  first  two  men 
in  New  Hampshire  to  enlist  were  Col.  John  L.  Kelley  and  Capt. 
Hollis  O.  Dudley.  Mr.  Kelley  was  a  native  of  Madbury  and  spent 
his  youth  in  Durham,  whence  his  father  had  removed  soon  after 
his  birth.  Mr.  Dudley  lived  some  years  in  Durham  after  the 
war.     They  both  enlisted  16  April  1861. 

Capt.  John  B.  Sanders  of  Durham  commanded  a  company 
of  volunteers  sent  from  this  town  to  join  the  Sixth  Regiment  and 


HISTORY   OF   DURHAM  1 53 

was  presented  with  a  sword  by  some  of  the  citizens  of  the  town, 
"desirous  of  showing  our  appreciation  of  his  energy  and  patriot- 
ism," as  the  subscription  paper  says. 

Of  those  who  died  in  the  army  and  were  buried  in  Durham  the 
following  list  has  been  made: 

George  W.  Bunker,  enlisted  8  November  1864;  buried  at  Mast 
Road  cemetery.     He  served  in  the  Navy. 

Charles  S.  Davis,  Company  M,  First  Cavalry;  enlisted  23 
December  1861 ;  discharged  for  disability  27  June  1862 ;  promoted 
to  corporal.  He  was  transferred  to  the  Navy.  Buried  at  the 
Albert  Young  graveyard. 

John  F.  Langley,  corporal,  Company  H,  Sixth  Regiment; 
enlisted  30  November  1861 ;  died  8  March  1862 ;  buried  at  Durham 
Point. 

Alphonso  Pinkham,  corporal,  Company  H,  Sixth  Regiment; 
enlisted  28  November  1861;  promoted  to  sergeant;  died  at  Dur- 
ham while  on  a  furlough,  28  August  1863,  buried  in  the  village 
cemetery. 

Samuel  Stevens,  wagoner,  Company  H,  Sixth  Regiment; 
enlisted  28  November  1861;  discharged  27  November  1864; 
buried  in  graveyard  on  Martha  A.  Stevens'  land.  James  M. 
Stevens,  his  brother,  is  buried  in  the  same  yard. 

Samuel  E.  Smith,  wagoner,  Company  H,  Sixth  Regiment; 
enlisted  28  November  1861;  reenlisted  2  January  1864;  died  15 
April  1865;  buried  in  village  cemetery. 

Amos  M.  Smart,  Company  K,  Eleventh  Regiment;  enlisted 
2  September  1862;  died  6  April  1863  of  typhoid  fever;  buried  in 
the  village  cemetery. 

Enrollment   of   all   Able-bodied    Male   Citizens  in   the   Town   of 
Durham,  Made  by  the  Selectmen,  August  20,  1862. 

Age.      Names  Occupation.  Age.      Names.  Occupation. 

28  Abbott,  Horatio  P.  Tanner  Bunker,  Daniel  C. 

24  Adams,  Joseph  M.  R.  28  Bunker,  John  J.         Carpenter 

Farmer  25  Bunker,  George  W.  Shoemaker 

23  Allen,  William  H.      Laborer  23  Bunker,  Charles  H.  Farmer 

38  Atherton,  Bradbury  Miller  21  Bunker,  George  F. 

18  Bunker,  Charles  A. 

39  Butler,  James  Farmer  19  Brock,  Haley  D.  Farmer 
Broderick,  John  Laborer  Bickford,  D.  Page  Farmer 
Butler,  George  W.                                   44  Bickford,  D.  Prescott 

37  Bunker,  William  H.  Farmer  Farmer 

32  Bunker,  James  M.    Farmer  24  Bickford,  John  F.      Shoemaker 


154 


HISTORY   OF    DURHAM 


Age.      Names.  Occupation'. 

40  Burnham,  George  W. 

Farmer 
26  Berry,  Samuel  Laborer 

36  Berry,  Richard  Laborer 

28  Brown,  Jacob  K.       Farmer 


Clerk  in  P.  O. 
Farmer 
Farmer 
Laborer 


30  Chadwick,  William 
B. 

23  Chesley,  John  S. 
Chesley,  George  E. 

24  Colman,  Oliver  W. 

27  Colman,  Daniel  S. 
Cummins,  Charles  D. 

36  Corson,  John  Farmer 
30  Corson,  Aaron  Laborer 
26  Corson,  Charles  H. 

Channel,  William  J.  Farmer 
Coffin,  William  R.     Shoemaker 

40  Church,  Israel  R. 

26  Dame,  George  E. 

26  Dame,  Moses  G. 

28  Dame,  Levi 

26  Dame,  Hunkin  H. 
24  Dame,  Sylvester 
18  Dame,  Asa  G. 
39  Drew,  John 
44  Demeritt,  John  C. 
21  DeMeritt,  George  P. Farmer 
18  DeMeritt,  Charles     Farmer 

37  DeMeritt,  Oliver  P.  Overseer   in 

Factory 

23  Doe,  Olinthus  N. 

24  Doe,  Horace  B. 
34  Doe,  Ebenezer  F. 
31  Doe,  Andrew  J. 

Dowe,  George  M. 
30  Davis,  Ebenezer  M.  Miller 
34  Davis  William  H.      Tin  Pedlar 
39  Durgin,  John  W.       Farmer 

27  Drew,  John  F.  Farmer 
Drew,  Henry  A.         Farmer 

34  Emerson,  Ebenezer  T. 

Farmer 
19  Emerson,  Charles  W. 
30  Emerson,  John  P. 
21  Emerson,  John  Farmer 


Farmer 

Stone  Cutter. 

Shoemaker 

Farmer 

Farmer 

Farmer 

Farmer 

Farmer 


Farmer 
Farmer 
Farmer 
Farmer 


Age.       Names. 
24  Emerson,  Samuel 
28  Edgerly,  Eli 
26  Edgerly,  George 
21  Edgerly,  Richard 
Edgerly,  James  B. 


Occupation. 
Farmer 
Farmer 
Shoemaker 
Farmer 


18  Frost,  George  S. 
41  Foss,  Leonard 
43  Fowler,  Joseph 
28  Fowler,  George 

31  Francis,  Robert  W. 
33  George,  Isaac  B. 

Gleason,  Albert 
40  Glidden,  David  S. 

Greene,  Samuel  H. 

Gerrish,  Ferdinando 
20  Griffiths,  Edward  B 

19  Griffiths,  William  H 


Student 

Farmer 
Mason 
Farmer 
Depot  Master 

Farmer 
Physician 
Physician 
.Farmer 
.Farmer 


Laborer 


19  Hanson,  John  A 
30  Hayes,  Ezra 
21  Hayes,  John  S. 
Hall,  Lafayette 

40  Haley,  Michael 

41  Ham,  John  F. 

43  Hull,  Cyrus  G. 
36  Hodgdon,  Joseph  H. Laborer 
39  Hobbs,  William  R.    Machinist 
27  Jackman,  Charles 

44  Jones,  William  F. 
23  Joy,  Charles 
18  Jones,  Charles  0. 


Farmer 

Machinist 

Laborer 

Butcher 

Mason 


Shoemaker 
Farmer 
Teacher 
Laborer 


22  Kent,  Ebenezer,  Jr. 
29  Kent,  James  M. 

32  Kent,  George  W. 

26  Keniston,  George  O. 

41  Kingman,  John  W.   Counsellor 

Lancaster,  Edward  M. 

Teacher 

33  Langley,  Samuel        Farmer 

21  Langley,  Jeremiah     Shoemaker 
Langley,  Moses  B. 

35  Langley,  William  D. Farmer 
26  Langley,  John  E.       Carpenter 

22  Langley,  Charles  F.  Farmer 


HISTORY   OF    DURHAM 


155 


Age.       Names.  Occupation. 

Langmaid,  William  B. 

Langmaid,  Charles  A. 

Langmaid,  Jacob  H. 
38  Long,  James  W. 

Long,  James  H. 

Long,  George  W. 

26  Long,  John  Alien-Laborer 
24  Lucus,  James  Brickmaker 

21  Marden,  Bartholomew 

Laborer 

41  Mathes,  John  M.       Farmer 
44  Mathes,  Clark  Farmer 

21  Mathes,  John  H.        Brickmaker 
24  Mathes,  Burnham     Brickmaker 

21  Mathes,  Mark  H.      Farmer 

19  Mathes,  Hamilton  A. 

Farmer 

20  Mathes,  John  A.        Farmer 

24  Meserve,  Winthrop  S. 

Farmer 

42  Meader,  Stephen       Farmer 

27  McKone,  Peter  Laborer 

43  Moring,  Andrew  D.  Carpenter 

22  Nute,  Albert  M.        Sailor 
19  Nute,  Augustus  P.    Farmer 

Odell,  Albert  Student 

41  Odiorne,  John  H.       Farmer 

41  Paul,  Stephen  Carpenter 

29  Paul,  Charles  H.        Machinist 
27  Paul,  Alfred  F.  Shoemaker 

32  Palmer,  James  B.      Shoemaker 

23  Perkins,  Marcellus    Shoemaker 
35  Perkins,  Thomas  H.  Laborer 

25  Rand,  Stephen  Shoemaker 
22,  Ransom,  Reuben  M. 

23  Ransom,  Alonzo 

Roberts,  Blake 

2,2  Savage,  Sylvester  Carpenter 

43  Savage,  Henry  F.  Carpenter 

37  Shepard,  Jacob  Shoemaker 
35  Stevens,  Nathaniel  Farmer 

38  Stevens,  Nathaniel,  Jr. 

Farmer 


Age.      Names. 

19  Stevens,  David  A. 
Stevens,  Darius 
Stevens,  Federal  B. 
Stevens,  Parker,  Jr 
Stevens,  David 

38  Smart,  John 

27  Smart,  Amos  M. 

Smart,  Charles  H. 
40  Smart,  James  M. 

39  Smith,  Joshua  B. 
Smith,  Joseph 

25  Sullivan,  David 
37  Sullivan,  John 
Smith,  John  S. 


Occupation. 
Farmer 

Farmer 


Laborer 
Laborer 
Farmer 
Farmer 
Farmer 
Farmer 
Farmer 
Alien-Laborer 
Ordained 
Minister 


25  Thompson,  Andrew  B. 

Shoemaker 
39  Thompson,  Samuel  W. 

Farmer 
41  Thompson,  Ebenezer 

Farmer 

22  Thompson,  John  W.  E. 

Farmer 
Thompson,  Daniel  G. 

Student 
Thompson,  True  \V. 

Teacher 
27  Thompson,  Charles  A.  C. 

Farmer 
Trickey,  John  F. 
Twombly,  John  R.    Laborer 
34  Twombly,  Reuben  H. 

Farmer 
19  Tuttle,  William,  Jr.  Farmer 

Tuttle,  Charles  H. 
27  Tufts,  Willard  C. 
36  Tufts,  Samuel  B. 

36  Watson,  John  Farmer 

23  Whitehorn,  Charles  H. 

Farmer 
21  Whitehorn,  Alphonzo  L. 

Farmer 

26  Wentworth,  John  N. 

Farmer 

27  Wiggin,  George  T.     Teacher 


156 


HISTORY   OF   DURHAM 


Age.      Names.  Occupation. 

42  Wiggin,  Nathaniel  P. 

Carpenter 
19  Wiggin,  Charles  E.    Farmer 
33  Wiggin,  William        Farmer 
22  Woodman,  Daniel  A. 

Farmer 
42  Woodman,  William  Farmer 
44  Willey,  Ira  Carpenter 

24  Willey,  Mark  E.         Carpenter 


Age.      Names.  Occupation. 

26  Willey,  Charles  H.    Carpenter 
38  Wigglesworth,  James  L. 

Shoemaker 
19  Walker,  Charles  W.  Farmer 

41  Yeaton,  Nathaniel  Fisherman 

Young,  Josiah  B. 

25  Young,  Albert  Farmer 

36  York,  John  B.  Mason. 


Alphabetical  List  of  Durham  Soldiers  in  the  Civil  War. 

Those  names  marked  with  a  cross  +  were  residents  of  Durham 
as  shown  by  town  records,  the  others  were  probably  persons 
who  enlisted  to  help  make  up  Durham's  quota  of  soldiers.  List 
made  out  by  Lucien  Thompson  from  Adjutant  General's  List, 
Regimental  Histories  and  Durham  Records. 

Name.  co. 

+ Abbott,  Horatio  P. 

Adams,  Charles 
+  Adams,     Enoch     G.,     1st 
U.  S.  V. 
Ainsworth,  Charles 
+  Allen,  William  H. 
Armstrong,  James 
Averill,     John     (alias    John 
Cleves) 


Baptiste,  Oudin  Jean 

+  Barrett,  John 

+  Bern-,  Samuel 

+  Bickford,  Charles  H. 

+  Bickford,  Dudley  P.,  Jr. 

+  Bickford,  John  E. 

Boudy,  Anthony,  1  Cav. 
+  Britton,    James    (also    in 
Navy) 
-  Burns,  Harry 

Carroll,  John 
+  Chadwick,  William  B. 
+  Chapman,  Joseph  H. 

+  Chesley,    Alfred    E.,    U.  S. 
Army  17th. 
Chidsy,  Fred  S.,  Y.  R.  C. 


REGT. 

NAME. 

CO.   REGT. 

E 

13 

Clark,  James 

I 

4 

14 

Clayton,  Wilton  H. 

(C 
(C 

10 

2 

D 

2 

Cleves,     John     (alias 

John 

B 

10 

Averill) 

C 

6 

K 

11 

E 

4 

Conley,  James 

F 

14 

[ 

+  Dame,  Joseph  W. 

G 

H 

C 

6 

+  Davis,  Alfred  E. 

H 

6 

Davis,  Charles 

K 

5 

F 

11 

+  Davis,   Charles  S.,   Co 

.   M., 

F 

6 

1  Cav. 

C 

6 

+  Davis,  David  0. 

D 

2 

A 

2 

F 

5 

B 

5 

+  Demeritt,  George  P. 

K 

n 

Dexter,  Charles  R. 

C 

5 

K 

5 

+  Doeg,  George  P. 

D 

3 

+  Doeg,  John  H. 

A 

9 

B 

17 

Dority,  John  C. 

F 

6 

K 

2 

+  Dowe,  George  M. 

E 

13 

A 

2 

+  Edgerly,  Charles  E.  B. 

D 

12 

C 

3 

+  Edgerly,  George  E. 

D 

15 

+  Edgerly,  Joseph 

D 

3 

E 

13 

Ellison,  George  W. 

H 

6 

+  Francis,  Robert  W. 
Gammon,  Charles 


E    13 
K     3 


HISTORY    OF   DURHAM 


157 


NAME.  CO.    REGT. 

+  Gerrish,  Ferdinando  E.  E    13 

Gleason,  John  F    13 

Golliez,  Edward  K      5 

+  Goodrich,  John  E    13 

+  Goodwin,  James  L.  A    11 

+  Goodwin,  Robert 

+  Grover,  John  H.  L. 
Ham,  Charles  M. 
Hancock,  Nath'.,  U.  S.  C.  T. 

+  Hanson,  George  W. 

+  Hanson,  John  A. 
Haughay,  Peter 

+  Hayes,  Charles  W.  H. 

+  Hewins,    Otis    W.    (or 
Hawkins) 


D  15 
H  6 
B    10 


H 
K 
B 

II 


Jackson,  John 
+  Jones,  Charles  P. 
-f-  Jones,  Samuel  J. 

Jones,  William 

Kelley,  Patrick 
+  Keniston,  George  O. 

Kennedy,  Michael 
+  Kent,  Charles  A. 
+  Kingman,  Col.  John  W. 


6 
11 
10 

6 

10 
1 

1 

H 
6 


B  10 

D  2 

F  7 

E  13 

K  5 

E  13 
15 


Laerny,  William  K    11 

+  Langley,  George  E.,  Co.  K, 

Cavalry 
-f-  Langley,  John  F. 
-f  Langley,  Moses  B.,  Co.  B., 

N.  H.  H.  A. 
+  Lees,  Thomas 
+  Long,  George  W. 
+  Long,  James  H. 
+  Long,  Nicholas 
+  Long,  Perry 

Maccaboy,  James 
Maloy,  Dennis 

Malten,  John 
McDermott,  F.  C. 
McDonnel,  John,   (McDon- 
ald) H 
McWilliams,  Thomas 


B 

1 

H 

6 

B 

2 

E 

13 

K 

II 

E 

2 

D 

3 

E 

5 

B 

10 

C 

2 

C 

10 

B 

10 

NAME.  CO. 

+  Mellen,  Henry  B.,  U.  S.  Cav. 

Moore,  Wm.  J. 
-f-  Moring,  Andrew  D. 

Morton,  Charles 
+  Palmer,  Asa  D. 
+  Palmer,  Ezekiel  U.  S.  A., 
+  Palmer,  George  W. 
+  Palmer,  Henry  S. 
+  Palmer,  Joseph  2<* 
+  Parker,  Riley  H. 
+  Paul,  William  E. 
+  Pendergast,  George  P. 
+  Philbrick,  Charles  W. 
+  Pinkham,  Alphonso 
+  Pinkham,  John  H. 
+  Pinkham,  Joshua 
+  Prescott,  Benjamin 

+  Reynolds,  Charles  W. 

Roberts,  John  A. 

Rogers,  John 
+  Ryan,  Patrick,  Co.  H,  Navy 
&  1st  Cavalry 

Saunders,  George 
+  Sanders,  John  B. 

Scales,  Edward 

Scott,  Austin 
+  Shepard,  John 
+  Small,  James  R. 
+  Smart,  Amos  M. 

Smith,  Daniel 

Smith,  James 
+  Smith,  Samuel  E. 
+  Starbird,  James  W. 
+  Stevens,  Andrew  J. 
+  Stevens,  Samuel 

Stewart,  Horace  M. 

+  Stimpson,  Alfred 

+  Stimpson,  Curtis 

Strunk,  Isaac 

+  Thompson,  S.  Millet 
+  Tuttle,  Andrew  J.  S. 
+  Tuttle,  Freeman  H. 


U 

K 

11 

G 

5 

H 

6 

F 

7 

F 

7 

K 

3 

A 

9 

K 

11 

D 

2 

B 

2 

H 

6 

H 

6 

K 

3 

F 

7 

K 

I 

5 

A 

12 

D 

- 

10 

B 

10 

B 

6 

E 

4 

G 

5 

E 

2 

G 

7 

K 

11 

F 

S 

7 

D 

15 

H 

6 

H 

6 

I 

6 

H 

6 

B 

10 

A 

3 

H 

6 

B 

2 

A 

12 

E 

13 

E 

13 

B 

2 

158 


HISTORY    OF   DURHAM 


NAME. 

+  Tuttle,  James  H. 

Urnback,  Adam 

Valley,  Franklin? 
+  Vibbert,  Luke  R. 

+  Walker,  James  F. 
+  Walker,  Thomas  H., 
White,  James 


REGT. 

B      3 

E      5 


H 
H 

H 
D 
K 


NAME. 

+  Willey,  Henry 
+  Willey,  Jonas  M. 
+  Willey,  James  Warren 
Williams  George 

Young,  Charles,  negro 

+  Young,  George  B. 
+  Young,  James  T. 
-f-  Young,  John  T. 

Youngblet,  Friedrick 


CO.    REGT. 

K 

3 

H 

6 

K 

3 

E 

5 

C&G 

IO 

D 

2 

K 

II 

K 

I  I 

E 

13 

E 

12 

Men  born  in  Durham,  who  lived  elsewhere  when  they  enlisted 
in  the  Civil  War. 


NAME.  CO.    REGT. 

Adams.  John  B     \2 

Bryant,  John  S.  B      3 

Chesley,  Joseph  M.  E      2 

Colomy,  Jacob,  not  born  in  D., 

lived  here  after  war.  I        3 

Dudley,  Hollis  O.,  not  born  in 

D.  but  lived  here  after  war. 

1st  N.  H.  Regt.  &  C 

Ellison,  Geo.  W.  H 

Fernald,  William  J.  G 

Farr,  John  B 

Hill,  Alfred  H. 

Keyes,  Phylander  D 

Long,  Nicholas  E 

Mendum,  John,  only  lived  here 

after  the  war  D 


11 

6 
2 
5 
3 
9 
2 


Maj.    Mellen,    Henry   B.,  U 

Cavalry 
Randall,  Charles  D. 
Reynolds,  Charles  W. 

Ricker,  Joseph 
Speed,  John 
Smith,  Daniel1 


CO.  REGT. 
D  IO 
D  2 
S. 


Stimpson,  William 

Stevens,  James,  lived  here  after 

war. 
Yenner,  James  M.  D 

Willey,  James  K 


5 
3 

ii 

7 
7 


Durham  Soldiers  who  Enlisted  During  Civil  War  in  Other 
States,  as  Shown  by  Town  of  Durham  Records 


NAME. 

REGT.    CC 

1.      STATE. 

John  Conroy 

28     E 

Massachusetts 

Wm.  Dame 

Wisconsin 

Daniel  Walker 

ISt 

Cavalry 

Massachusetts 

Edward  Bickford 

45     B 

Massachusetts 

Michael  Long 

Massachusetts 

Robert  H.  Mathes 

17 

Maine 

Lysander  Richardson 

Navy 

Massachusetts 

Charles  Edgerly 

12     E 

Massachusetts 

Samuel  T.  Long 

1     G 

Massachusetts 

1  See  Genealogical  notes, 

Smith  family. 

Sept.  2,  1861 


HISTORY   OF    DURHAM 


159 


Names  of  men  who  volunteered  for  9  months  in  other  States. 


NAME. 

REGT. 

cc 

1.      STATE. 

Edward  Bickford 

45 

B 

Massachusetts 

Charles  B.  Jenness 

48 

Massachusetts 

John  Conroy 

28 

E 

Massachusetts 

Lysander  Richardson 

Wisconsin 

William  Dame 

Wisconsin 

Thomas  Henney 

13 

H 

Maine 

William  Henney 

5 

B 

Maine 

George  Hoitt 

Cavalry 

Rhode  Island 

Daniel  Mathes 

Massachusetts 

Durham  Men  in  the  Navy  During  the  Civil  War 


NAME. 

Chas.  W.  Reynolds 


Benjamin  F.  Jackson 
Charles  W.  Davis 
Charles  B.  Jenness 
George  F.  Richardson 
Ebenezer  S.  Chapman 
Albert  B.  Clement 
Lysander  Richardson 
James  Britton 

Sylvanus  Chapman 
Luke  Long 
Patrick  Ryan 
Cephas  Hepworth 
John  Denney  (A.  G.  S.) 
John  Drew 


MUSTERED  IN.    NAVY.  TERM.    AGE. 

Apr.  25,  Landsman         3  reenlisted  Aug. 

1861 

May  13,  Landsman 

1861 
May  13,  Landsman 

1861 
May  15,  Landsman         1       21 

1861 
May  16,  Landsman  2  or  3     27  reenlisted  Oct. 


19, 

1864, 

3 

yrs. 

3 
3 

21 
21 

1861 

12,    1862 

May  29, 
1861 

ordinary 

I 

3i 

July  29, 
1861 

Landsman 

3 

21 

Sept.  2, 

3 

25 

reenlisted    Dec. 

1861 

2,  1864.  marine 

Oct.  14, 

Landsman 

reenlisted  1863- 

1861 
Nov.  20 

,  Landsman 

1 

21 

1    year,    Aug. 
19  1864-2  yr. 

1861 

Feb.  19, 

Landsman 

3 

21 

1862 

July  24, 
1862 

Landsman 

1 

19 

Aug.  9, 
1862 

Landsman 

1 

21 

Sept.  15 

1863 
Oct.  23, 

,    Navy 
Seaman 

1 

35 

reenlisted     Oct. 

1863 

2\ 

,  1864,  2  years. 

160  HISTORY   OF    DURHAM 


NAME. 

MUSTERED  IN.    NAVY. 

TERM. 

AGE 

William  Tuttle,  Jr. 

Aug.  6,    Navy 
1864 

I 

Charles  S.  Davis 

Oct.  29,   Navy 
1864 

2 

Charles  H.  Bunker 

Nov.  7,  Navy 
1864 

4 

George  W.  Bunker 

Nov.  8,    Navy 
1864 

2 

James  L.  Goodwin 

Oct.  22,   Navy 
1864 

2 

Henry  Mathews  (4  y 

ears) 

July  6,     Navy 
1859 

1 

25 

Wallace  Halstead  (4 

years) 

Aug.  23, 
1859 

1 

23 

Asa  Alathes 

The  accompanying  group  of  veterans,  living  half  a  century 
after  their  services  in  the  Union  Army,  are  now  champions  of 
peace  and  fraternity.  They  are  here  presented  with  the  grati- 
tude and  congratulations  of  fellow  townsmen.  Beginning  with 
the  upper  row,  at  the  left,  they  are:  George  P.  Demeritt,  Lieut. 
Co.  K,  nth  Regt.  N.  H.  Vols.;  John  H.  Doeg,  Co.  A,  9th  Regt. 
N.  H.  Vols.;  George  P.  Doeg,  Co.  D,  3rd  Regt.  N.  H.  Vols.; 
David  O.  Davis,  Co.  D,  2nd  Regt.  and  Co.  F,  5th  Regt.  N.  H. 
Vols.;  Silas  Jenkins,  Corp.  Co.  D,  First  Mass.  Heavy  Artillery. 
Those  in  the  lower  row,  beginning  also  at  the  left,  are:  Samuel 
J.  Jones,  Co.  H,  6th  Regt.  N.  H.  Vols.;  True  W.  Lovering,  Co.  F, 
13th  Regt.  N.  H.  Vols.;  Riley  H.  Parker,  Co.  A,  9th  Regt.  N.  H. 
Vols.;  Joshua  Pinkham,  Co.  K,  3rd  Regt.  N.  H.  Vols.;  and  David 
A.  Stevens,  Co.  E,  First  Regt.  of  Heavy  Artillery. 

Earlier  in  this  chapter  has  been  presented  the  military  record 
of  some  who  were  prominent  in  the  struggle  for  national  inde- 
pendence. The  lapse  of  time  has  added  to  their  laurels.  Half 
a  century  has  passed  since  the  war  for  the  preservation  of  the 
union,  and  perhaps  this  is  perspective  enough  for  history  to 
make  mention  of  their  deeds.  The  following  condensed  state- 
ments of  military  services  may  interest  some  future  generations 
even  more  than  those  who  now  read  them. 

Enoch  G.  Adams  enlisted  from  Durham,  22  April  1851,  at 
the  age  of  32,  for  three  months.  He  reenlisted,  10  May  1861 
for  three  years  and  was  mustered  in  1  June  of  the  same  year. 
He  was  promoted  to  sergeant,  1  October  1861,  and  was  severely 


11 


1 62  HISTORY   OF   DURHAM 

wounded  at  Williamsburg.  He  was  promoted  to  be  second 
lieutenant,  10  August  1862,  and  was  commissioned  captain 
of  Company  D,  First  United  States  Volunteers,  30  April  1864. 
He  was  mustered  out  of  service  at  Fort  Leavenworth,  Kan.,  2 
November  1865,  having  been  brevetted  major  for  gallantry. 
From  May  to  September,  1865,  he  was  in  command  at  Fort 
Erie,  Dak.,  as  ranking  officer  of  the  three  regiments  comprising 
its  garrison.  After  leaving  the  service  he  spent  some  years  on 
the  Pacific  Coast,  being  registrar  of  land  under  appointment 
of  President  Grant,  at  Vancouver,  and  published  a  newspaper 
there.    He  settled  on  a  farm  in  Berwick,  Me.,  where  he  died. 

Capt.  John  B.  Sanders  was  born  in  Effingham,  August  1817, 
and  at  the  outbreak  of  the  rebellion  was  a  traveling  salesman 
with  a  good  salary.  He  succeeded  in  enlisting  sixty  men  and 
received  a  captain's  commission  from  Gov.  Berry  and  was 
presented  with  a  sword  by  people  in  Durham.  He  was  in  the 
Burnside  expedition,  had  a  sunstroke  at  Newport  News  in  July, 
1862,  and  was  forced  by  ill  health  to  resign.  He  belonged  to 
the  famous  Sixth  New  Hampshire  Regiment  of  Volunteers, 
that  fought  in  twenty-three  battles  and  lost  two  thirds  of  its 
original  number  of  men.  Capt.  Sanders  after  the  war  resided 
in  Dover,  where  he  died,  having  suffered  much  from  disease 
contracted  in  the  service. 

The  following  is  taken  from  the  History  of  the  Seventh  New 
Hampshire  Regiment: 

Major  Daniel  Smith  was  a  son  of  Winthrop  Smith,  Esq.,  of  Durham.  He 
was  born  at  that  place  on  the  27th  of  January,  1823.  After  graduation  from 
the  public  schools  of  his  native  town  he  attended  for  several  terms  the  acade- 
mies at  Greenland  and  Pittsfield.  In  early  life  he  adopted  the  business  of 
landsurveyor,  which  to  him  proved  eminently  successful.  In  1850  he  was  com- 
missioned lieutenant-colonel  of  the  Twenty-fifth  Regiment  of  New  Hampshire 
Militia,  and  besides  filled  many  positions  of  honor  and  trust  in  his  native  town. 
In  1854  he  removed  to  Dover  and  from  1855  to  i860  he  was  deputy  sheriff 
for  Strafford  County,  city  marshal  for  Dover  for  three  years,  and  a  representa- 
tive from  that  city  to  the  popular  branch  of  the  New  Hampshire  legislature 
in  i860  and  1861.  For  his  character  as  a  man  and  for  the  many  desirable 
qualities  he  possessed  for  the  position  he  was  appointed  and  commissioned 
major  of  the  Seventh  Regiment  on  the  15th  of  October,  1861.  He  went  with 
his  regiment  to  New  York  city,  thence  to  Fort  Jefferson,  Fla.,  where  he  served 
ably  and  acceptably  as  provost  marshal,  until  the  regiment  moved  to  Beau- 
fort, N.  C,  where  he  was  seized  with  fever.  He  was  permitted  to  go  home  on 
a  leave  of  absence,  arriving  at  his  house  in  a  very  enfeebled  condition,  and 


HISTORY    OF   DURHAM 


163 


died  on  the  26th  of  August,  1862,  leaving  a  widow  and  four  children.  As  a 
citizen  Major  Smith  was  highly  respected  and  discharged  all  official  and  public 
duties  with  intelligence  and  fidelity.  While  in  the  army  his  promptness, 
valor  and  uniform  cheerfulness  and  kindness  to  the  officers  and  men  won  for 
him  the  confidence,  respect,  and  affection  of  all  with  whom  he  became  as- 
sociated. 


Major  Daniel  Smith 


It  may  be  added  that  he  was  a  selectman  in  Durham  in  1847 
and  chairman  of  the  board  in  1849  and  1851-52.  He  and  his 
line  of  ancestry  made  four  generations  who  held  the  rank  of 
major.    [See  Genealogical  Notes  on  the  Smith  family.] 

Lieut.  Stephen  Millett  Thompson  was  born  in  Barnstead,  27 
April  1838.  In  youth  he  fitted  at  Phillips  Academy,  Exeter,  for 
the  sophomore  year  of  Harvard  and  later  studied  medicine  for 
one  year.  He  enlisted  in  Company  E,  Thirteenth  New  Hampshire 
Regiment,  from  Durham  at  the  age  of  24.  He  was  mustered  in 
19  September    1862,   as   first   sergeant,   and   was   promoted   to 


1 64  HISTORY    OF   DURHAM 

second  lieutenant,  10  June  1863.  He  was  wounded  severely, 
15  June  1864,  in  the  assault  on  Battery  5,  Petersburg,  Va., 
and  was  discharged  on  account  of  wounds,  4  October  1864. 
He  wrote  the  history  of  his  regiment.  After  the  war  he  resided 
in  Providence,  R.  I.,  where  he  died  about  1910.  [See  Genea- 
logical Notes  on  the  Thompson  family.] 

David  O.  Davis  enlisted  30  April  1861  in  Company  D,  Sec- 
ond New  Hampshire  Regiment,  at  age  of  30.  He  was  born  at 
Alton.  He  reenlisted  10  May  1861  for  three  years  and  was  must- 
ered in  as  corporal  I  June  1861.  He  was  discharged  for  disabil- 
ity, 19  September  1862,  near  Fairfax  Seminary,  Va.  #In  August, 
1853,  he  was  drafted  and  assigned  to  the  Fifth  New  Hampshire 
Regiment.  He  was  wounded  at  Fort  Steadman,  captured  at 
Farmville  and  again  discharged  for  disability  after  the  surrender. 
He  lived  after  the  war  at  Durham  and  was  mail  carrier  and 
expressman.  Later  he  removed  to  Newmarket.  [See  Genealog- 
ical Notes  on  the  Davis  family.] 

Charles  S.  Davis,  brother  of  Davis  O.  Davis,  enlisted  for  three 
months,  13  May  1861,  and  was  mustered  into  Company  M  of 
the  New  Hampshire  Battalion  of  the  First  New  England  Cavalry, 
24  December  1861.  He  was  promoted  to  corporal  and  discharged 
for  disability  27  June  1862.  He  enlisted  for  two  years  in  the 
navy,  29  October  1864.  He  was  buried  in  the  Albert  Young 
graveyard  in  Durham.    [See  Genealogical  Notes.] 

George  P.  Pendergast,  born  in  Durham,  enlisted  29  April 
1861,  at  age  of  21,  in  Company  D  of  the  Second  New  Hampshire 
Regiment.  He  reeinlisted  10  May  1861  for  three  years  and  was 
killed  at  the  battle  of  Williamsburg,  Pa.,  5  May  1862. 

Thomas  H.  Walker  was  born  in  Boston,  Mass.,  but  enlisted 
from  Durham,  where  he  was  living  with  his  sister,  Mrs.  James 
Monroe  Smart,  25  April  1861,  at  the  age  of  23.  He  reenlisted 
10  May  1 861  for  three  years  in  the  Second  New  Hampshire 
Regiment,  and  was  mustered  in  as  sergeant  1  June  1861.  He 
was  discharged  for  disability  at  Washington,  D.  C,  1  August 
of  the  same  year.  He  reenlisted  11  September  1861  in  Company 
K  of  the  Fifth  New  Hampshire  Regiment  as  sergeant  and  was 
promoted  to  second  lieutenant  15  December  1862,  which  office 
he  resigned  11  June  1863.  After  the  war  he  lived  at  Hyannis, 
Mass. 

Freeman   H.   Tuttle,   son  of  John   Landon  Tuttle  and  wife, 


HISTORY    OF   DURHAM  1 65 

Elizabeth,  was  born  in  Durham  and  enlisted  at  age  of  21  in 
Company  B  of  the  Second  New  Hampshire  Regiment,  11  May 
1861.  He  was  wounded  25  June  1862  at  Oak  Grove,  Va.,  and 
was  transferred  to  the  Invalid  Corps  15  August  1863.  He  was 
discharged  at  Washington,  D.  C,  10  June  1864.  He  was  living 
in  Dover  in  1907.  His  brothers,  Andrew  J.  and  James  H.,  were 
also  in  the  service. 

George  E.  Langley  enlisted  as  a  private  in  Company  B  of  the 
First  New  Hampshire  Regiment,  at  the  age  of  22.  He  was 
mustered  in  2  May  1861  and  mustered  out  9  August  1861.  He 
reenlisted  in  Company  K  of  the  First  New  England  Cavalry, 
afterward  called  the  First  Rhode  Island  Cavalry,  and  was  mus- 
tered in  24  October  1861.  He  reenlisted  2  January  1864  in 
Company  K  of  First  New  Hampshire  Cavalry  and  was  promoted 
to  corporal  1  July  1865.  He  was  mustered  out  with  his  regiment 
at  Cloud's  Hill,  Va.,  15  July  1865.  His  brother,  Moses  B.  Lang- 
ley,  was  in  Company  B  of  the  New  Hampshire  Heavy  Artillery, 
mustered  in  19  August  1863  and  discharged  with  his  regiment  II 
September  1865.  [See  Genealogical  Notes  on  the  Langley  family.] 
George  P.  Doeg  was  born  in  Durham  and  enlisted  at  age  of 
20  in  Company  D  of  the  Third  New  Hampshire  Regiment, 
9  August  1861.  He  was  wounded  18  July  1863  and  was  dis- 
charged by  surgeon's  certificate  of  disability  7  November  1863, 
at  Norris  Island,  S.  C. 

Joseph  Edgerly,  born  in  Durham,  enlisted  16  August,  1861, 
in  Company  D  of  the  Third  New  Hampshire  Regiment,  at  age 
of  26.  He  was  discharged  at  Hilton's  Head,  S.  C,  10  October 
1862,  by  surgeon's  certificate  of  disability.  His  brother,  Charles 
E.  B.  Edgerly,  was  in  Company  D  of  the  Thirteenth  New  Hamp- 
shire Regiment.  They  were  sons  of  Jacob  and  Elizabeth  Edgerly. 
John  Mendum,  born  in  Lee,  enlisted  from  Durham,  where 
he  was  a  resident  for  many  years  after  the  war.  He  enlisted,  I 
August  1 861,  in  Company  D  of  the  Third  New  Hampshire 
Regiment,  at  age  of  34.  He  was  discharged  at  Hilton's  Head, 
23  September  1863,  for  disability  by  reason  of  sickness.  De- 
scribed as  five  feet,  five  inches,  in  height,  of  dark  complexion, 
blue  eyes  and  brown  hair.  He  reenlisted  in  1863  and  served 
through  the  war,  having  been  in  many  severe  battles.  He 
was  mustered  out  19  December  1865.  He  received  a  pension 
for  a  long  time  and  died  at  the  Soldiers'  Home  at  Tilton. 


1 66  HISTORY    OF    DURHAM 

Joshua  Pinkham  was  enrolled  at  Dover,  20  August  1861  and 
discharged  at  Bermuda  Hundred,  Va.,  23  August  1864.  He  is 
described  as  five  feet,  nine  inches,  in  height,  of  dark  complexion, 
dark  eyes  and  dark  hair.  His  brother,  Alphonso  Pinkham,  died 
in  the  service.  [See  Genealogical  Notes  on  the  Pinkham  family.] 
Samuel  J.  Jones  was  born  in  Lee,  29  April  1836.  He  enlisted, 
19  October  1861  for  three  years  in  Company  H,  of  the  Sixth 
New  Hampshire  Regiment.  He  was  promoted  from  corporal 
to  sergeant  1  April  1865,  after  having  reenlisted  2  January  1864. 
He  was  mustered  out  17  July  1865,  and  resides  in  Durham. 
He  married  at  Newmarket,  22  January  1856,  Eliza  A.  Berry 
of  Strafford,  wrho  was  born  5  February  1840.  They  had  children, 
Orin  F.  born  10  January  1857,  Marianna  born  21  January  1859, 
and  Samuel  born  29  January  1862. 

Samuel  E.  Smith,  born  at  South  Andover,  Mass.,  enlisted 
from  Durham  2  November  1861,  at  age  of  30,  for  three  years 
in  Company  H  of  the  Sixth  New  Hampshire  Regiment.  He 
reenlisted  and  was  mustered  in  2  January  1864.  Captured  1 
October  1864  at  Poplar  Springs  Church,  Va.,  and  released.  He 
died  of  disease  at  Durham  15  April  1865  and  was  buried  in  the 
village  cemetery.  The  town  records  give  his  wife  as  Ann,  aged 
23,  and  children,  Mary  6,  George  4,  and  Cora  2,  who  became 
the  wife  of  Clarence  I.  Smart  of  Durham. 

James  W.  Starbird,  son  of  John  and  Olive  (Emerson)  Star- 
bird,  enlisted  30  October  1851,  at  age  of  31,  in  Company  H  of 
the  Sixth  New  Hampshire  Regiment,  for  three  years,  and  was 
discharged  for  disability  27  November  1862  at  Washington, 
D.  C.  Town  records  say  he  had  wife,  Angeline  P.,  aged  27,  and 
children,  Mary  8,  Martha  6,  and  George  1. 

George  W.  Palmer,  son  of  Joseph  and  Rebecca  (Leighton) 
Leathers,  enlisted  9  October  1861  and  served  over  three  years. 
He  was  in  Company  F  of  the  Seventh  New  Hampshire  Regiment, 
and  was  appointed  wagoner.  He  died  at  Durham  18  March  1905 
and  was  buried  in  Dover.  He  had  a  brother,  Henry  S.  Palmer 
in  the  same  company,  aged  29,  who  was  promoted  from  corporal 
to  sergeant.  Another  brother,  Asa  D.  Palmer,  was  in  Company 
H  of  the  Sixth  New  Hampshire  Regiment.  Henry  S.  Palmer 
removed  to  Maine.  Their  father  was  a  brother  to  Ezekie* 
Leathers,  who  had  sons,  Ezekiel,  George  and  Joseph  in  military 
service  in  the  Civil  War.     All  the  Durham  Palmers  had  their 


HISTORY   OF   DURHAM  1 67 

surname  changed  from  Leathers  to  Palmer  by  the  legislature 
before  the  war. 

William  E.  Paul,  son  of  James  and  Sarah  (Jenkins)  Paul, 
was  born  in  Durham  and  enlisted  2  September  1862  in  Company 
K  of  the  Eleventh  New  Hampshire  Regiment,  at  age  of  18.  He 
was  promoted  to  corporal  and  transferred  to  the  Veteran  Reserve 
Corps,  1  September  1863,  from  which  he  was  discharged  n 
November  1863.  He  was  killed  near  Shaw's  House,  Va.,  16 
January  1864. 

Amos  M.  Smart,  son  of  Enoch  and  Hannah  (Glover)  Smart, 
enlisted  18  August  1862,  at  age  of  25,  in  Company  K  of  the 
Eleventh  New  Hampshire  Regiment.  He  died  6  April  1863, 
of  typhoid  fever,  at  Baltimore,  Md.,  and  was  buried  in  the  vil- 
lage cemetery  at  Durham. 

Joseph  W.  Dame,  son  of  Joseph  and  Maria,  was  born  in  Dur- 
ham and  enlisted,  at  age  of  18,  in  Company  G  of  the  Eighth 
New  Hampshire  Regiment,  16  December  1861.  He  was  pro- 
moted to  corporal  15  March  1863.  He  reenlisted  4  March  1864 
and  was  transferred  to  Company  B,  Veteran  Battalion,  1  Janu- 
ary 1865.     He  died  at  Durham,  18  May  1865. 

John  H.  Doeg  was  a  native  of  Durham.  He  enlisted  5  June 
1862  in  Company  A,  of  the  Ninth  New  Hampshire  Regiment, 
aged  21.  He  was  discharged  at  Washington,  D.  C,  13  November 
1862,  on  surgeon's  certificate  of  disability. 

Silas  Jenkins  was  born  in  Chatham,  N.  H.,  30  March  1840. 
He  was  mustered  into  Company  D  of  the  First  Massachusetts 
Volunteer  Heavy  Artillery,  4  April  1862,  and  was  promoted 
to  corporal  20  October  1863,  near  Fort  Corcoran,  Va.  He  was 
mustered  out  3  April  1865.  Described  at  enlistment  as  five 
feet,  eight  inches,  in  height,  of  light  complexion,  blue  eyes,  and 
sandy  hair.  After  the  war  he  lived  at  Natick,  Mass.,  Greenland, 
N.  H.,  and  Durham  since  1871.  [See  Genealogical  Notes  on 
the  Jenkins  family.] 

Charles  H.  Bunker  was  born  in  Durham,  24  February  1839, 
and  enlisted  in  the  navy,  17  October  1864  for  two  years,  on 
the  United  States  ship  Vandalia  in  Portsmouth  Harbor.  He 
acted  as  assistant  ship's  cook,  or  landsman.  He  was  discharged 
18  May  1866;  was  a  pensioner  and  lived  on  the  Mast  Road, 
dying  25  May  1903.  He  was  son  of  Ephraim  and  Dolly  (Merrill) 
Bunker. 


1 68  HISTORY    OF   DURHAM 

George  W.  Bunker,  brother  of  Charles  H.  Bunker,  was  born 
in  Durham,  13  October  1836.  He  also  enlisted  in  the  navy, 
17  October  1864.  He  was  assigned  to  the  same  ship  as  his  brother > 
and  was  mustered  out  18  May  1866.  He  died  29  November 
1866. 

James  M.  Stevens  was  a  soldier,  enlisting  from  some  other 
town.  He  lived  in  Durham  many  years  and  carried  the  mails, 
receiving  bark  pay  and  pension.  The  old  Kincaid  land  was 
acquired  by  him  and  sold  to  Prof.  George  H.  Whitcher.  See 
page  153  and  genealogy  of  the  Stevens  family. 

Thus  have  been  brought  together,  with  painstaking  research 
by  Col.  Lucien  Thompson,  some  details  of  the  military  records 
of  some  of  the  best  known  volunteers  of  Durham.  Others 
have  been  noticed  in  other  chapters  of  this  history,  or  incidentally 
mentioned  in  the  Genealogical  Notes.  Earnest  effort  has  been 
made  to  present  the  names  of  all  Durham  soldiers  in  the  preced- 
ing alphabetical  list.  If  any  name  has  been  omitted  uninten- 
tionally no  one  will  regret  this  more  than  the  writer. 


SKETCH   OF   CHURCH   HISTORY 

The  earliest  inhabitants  of  Oyster  River  Plantation  worshiped 
at  Dover  Neck  with  all  the  settlers  of  ancient  Dover,  whither 
they  went  in  boats.  Here  Richard  Pinkham  beat  his  drum  to 
call  the  people  to  church,  and  here  they  listened  successively 
to  Revs.  William  Leverich,  George  Burdett,  Hanserd  Knollys, 
Thomas  Larkham,  and  Daniel  Maud.  All  this  has  been  told  at 
length  in  Dr.  Quint's  First  Parish  of  Dover. 

An  agreement  was  made,  14  July  1651,  that  two  ministers 
should  be  employed,  at  a  salary  of  £50  each,  Rev.  Daniel  Maud 
to  remain  at  Dover  Neck  and  another  to  be  called  to  Oyster 
River.  April  16,  1655,  the  town  voted  that  all  the  rents  of  the 
saw-mills  and  a  tax  of  two  pence  in  the  pound  be  devoted  to 
the  "comfortable  maintenance  of  the  ministry  of  Dover  and 
Oyster  River."  A  meeting  house  was  built  by  Valentine  Hill 
in  1655,  near  the  oyster  bed,  on  the  south  side  of  the  river,  about 
half  way  between  the  Falls  and  the  Point.  March  30,  1656,  the 
town  voted  that  "thear  shall  be  a  house  at  Oyster  Reuer  Billd 
neier  the  meeting  house  for  the  use  of  the  menestrey,  the  demen- 
shens  as  follareth,  that  is  to  say  36  feet  long,  18  foett  Broed,  12 
foot  in  the  wall,  with  too  chimneyes  and  to  be  seutabley 
feneshed."  This  parsonage  was  burned  by  the  Indians  in  1694. 
The  breadth  of  land  on  which  it  stood  long  remained  parsonage 
land. 

Rev.  Edward  Fletcher  served  as  minister  at  Oyster  River  about 
one  year  and  returned  to  England  in  1657.  He  came  back  to 
Boston  and  died  there  about  1666. 

In  1660  a  committee  chosen  by  the  town  and  consisting  of 
Valentine  Hill,  Richard  Walderne,  William  Wentworth,  Raphfe 
hall,  Richard  Otes,  William  ffurber,  John  Daues,  Robert  Burnom, 
William  Willyames,  and  William  Robords  agreed  that  Oyster 
River  should  have  for  support  of  the  ministry  there  twenty 
pounds  from  the  rent  of  the  grant  at  Lamprell  River  and  two 
pence  to  the  pound  on  taxes  raised  among  its  own  inhabitants; 
that  they  should  call  their  own  minister  and  that  he  should  be 
approved  by  the  town  or  three  elders;  that  the  twenty  pounds 
should  be  returned  in  case  Oyster  River  were  four  months  with- 
out a  minister,  they  of  Dover  doing  the  like  in  a  similar  case; 
that  fifteen  pounds  should  be  paid  for  preaching  at  Cochecho  in 

169 


170  HISTORY   OF   DURHAM 

the  winter  season;  and  that  Valentine  Hill's  now  dwelling  house 
at  Rocky  Point  should  be  within  the  line  of  division  to  Oyster 
River. 

The  Rev.  Joseph  Hull  was  preaching  at  Oyster  River  in  1662, 
as  is  incidentally  learned  from  Quaker  history.  How  long  he 
had  been  there  does  not  appear,  and  he  soon  after  left  for  the 
Isles  of  Shoals,  where  he  died  in  1665.  [See  Hull  family  under 
Genealogical  Notes.] 

There  is  no  record  of  any  preaching  at  Oyster  River  for  the 
next  twenty  years  or  so.  Meanwhile  disputes  arose  and  some 
thought  that  the  best  way  to  settle  them  would  be  to  make 
Oyster  River  a  separate  township.  To  this  end  the  following 
petition  was  sent  to  the  General  Court  of  Massachusetts  in  1669: 

To  the  much  honored  General  Court  assembled  at  Boston,  May  17,  1669, 
the  humble  petition  of  the  inhabetants  of  Oyster  Riuer  is  as  followeth.  The 
consideration  of  your  prudent  and  pious  care  for  the  earning  on  the  main  end 
of  planting  this  colonie,  in  the  settling  religion  and  the  promoting  the  welfare 
of  souls  in  evrie  part  of  it  subject  to  your  government,  doth  embolden  us  (who 
are  also  in  some  measure  sensible  of  the  great  end  we  came  into  the  world  for 
the  advancement  of  the  glory  of  God  in  our  own  salvation)  to  present  this 
humble  address  unto  yourselues.  It  is  not  unknown  unto  some  of  you  that 
the  inhabitants  of  Dover  (of  whom  for  the  present  we  are  part)  manie  years 
taking  into  consideration  the  intolerable  inconvenience  of  our  traveil  manie 
myles,  part  by  land,  part  by  water,  manie  times  by  both,  to  the  publick  wor- 
ship of  God  and  the  necessarie  stay  of  manie  of  us  from  publick  worship,  who 
can  not  undergo  the  difficulties  of  travel  to  it,  it  was  then  publickly  agreed 
and  concluded  that  there  should  be  two  ministers  at  Douer,  the  one  at  Oyster 
Riuer  the  other  at  Douer  neck,  as  appears  by  a  town  act  bearing  date  the 
fourteenth  of  the  fifth,  fifty  one,  the  means  of  calling  and  maintaining  both 
which  are  one,  yet  while  we  continue  with  them  there  is  noe  power  improued 
on  our  behalfe  to  that  end,  nor  have  we  anie  of  ourselves,  whereby  we  have  a 
long  time  and  at  present  groan  under  intolerable  inconveniences,  our  minis- 
trie  being  greatly  weakened,  yea  and  hazarded  thereby,  having  neither  head 
nor  hand  to  move  in  calling  when  without  or  settling  and  maintaining  when 
obtained,  and  it  being  so  difficult  for  us  to  attend  civil  meetings  there  that  often 
most  of  us  cannot  be  there,  whence  we  are  in  danger  to  be  neglected  or  not 
taken  care  of,  nor  our  affairs  so  well  provided  for  as  if  we  were  a  township  of 
ourselves,  we  being  in  all  two  hundred  and  twentie  souls,  near  fiftie  families, 
seventie  and  odd  souldiers,  a  conuinient  number  of  freemen,  humbly  request 
this  honoured  Court  to  grant  us  that  so  beneficiall  a  priuilege  of  becoming  a 
township  with  such  bounds  as  haue  been  alreadie  granted  us,  or  shall  be 
thought  meet  by  this  honored  Court,  and  for  this  end  we  have  sent  John 
Woodman,  an  inhabitant  among  us,  and  give  him  power  to  join  anie  with 
him,  as  he  shall  see  meet  for  ye  managing  of  this  our  petition  and  prosecution 
of  our  further  reasons  committed  to  him.  Should  this  honoured  Court  whose 
care  we  know  extendeth  to  us  among  the  rest  of  this  colonie  vouchsafe  us 
favourable  answer  to  this  request,  whereas  now  our  hands  and  hearts  are 
weakened  in  the  work,  prouision  for  the  ministree  at  a  stay,  the  old  and  young 


HISTORY   OF   DURHAM  171 

in  families  too  much  neglected,  others  of  good  use  who  would  join  with  us  dis- 
couraged until  we  become  a  township,  some  readie  to  leave  us  if  things  stand 
as  they  doe,  we  trust  upon  your  grant  you  will  soon  find  our  number  increasing, 
our  hearts  and  hands  strengthened  in  the  work  of  God,  our  care  more  uigorous, 
for  an  able  orthodox  minister,  our  families  instructed  according  to  law,  our- 
selves growing  in  truth  and  peace  to  God's  glorie,  our  content  and  your  good, 
and  we  shall  not  cease  to  pray  God  Almightie  for  a  blessing  upon  you  in  all 
your  weightie  concerns  and  subscribe  ourselves 

Yours  in  humble  obseruance 

John  Bickford  John  Meder 

Richard  York  Thomas  Willie 

John  Daues  John  Hill 

William  Beard  Thomas  Edgerlie 

Robert  Burnam  William  Perkinson 

Phillip  Chesley  Benjamin  Matthews 

Charles  Adams  Davie  Daniel 

Steuen  Jones  Thomas  Drew 

Walter  Matthews  Joseph  Field 

Nicholas  Doe  Zacharias  Field 

Vidua  Elizabeth  Drew  John  Goddard 

John  Woodman  Matthew  Williams 

Edward  Lethers  James  Smith 

William  Randall  James  Huckins 

William  Pitman  Robert  Watson 

Teag  Royall  Patricke  Jemison 

Salathiel  Denbow  James  Thomas 

Barnard  Pope  Walter  Jacson 

Jos  Stinson  Francis  Drew 

John  Smith 

[N.  H.  Province  Papers,  Vol.  I,  pp.  308-310.] 

The  only  effect  of  the  above  petition  was  that  the  town  voted 
to  allow  the  inhabitants  of  Oyster  River  to  build  a  meeting 
house  at  their  own  expense  and  to  appropriate  their  tax  for  the 
ministry.  After  1675  two  of  the  five  selectmen  were  chosen  from 
Oyster  River,  and  the  people  had  their  own  minister,  paid  by  the 
town  from  the  parish  rates.  Who  preached  from  1662  till  1682 
is  not  known.  There  appears  to  have  been  no  regular  and 
settled  minister.  At  the  latter  date  John  Buss  began  his  labors 
here  as  minister  and  physician,  having  previously  served  several 
years  at  Wells,  Me.  His  house  and  library  were  burned  at  the 
time  of  the  great  massacre  in  1694.  If  any  early  records  of  the 
church  existed,  they  were  then  destroyed,  but  there  was  no 
organized  church.  The  following  petition  throws  light  on  his 
ministry  and  the  character  of  the  people: 


172  HISTORY   OF    DURHAM 

To  His  Excellency  Sam'  Shute  Esq*  Gov  and  Comandcr  in  chief  in  and  over 
his  Majesties  Province  of  Newhampshire  and  the  Hon'ble  his  Majesties 
Councell  and  Representatives  convened  in  General  assembly: 
The  Petition  of  John  Buss  of  Oyster  River  most  humbly  Showeth — That 
your  Petitioner  who  for  forty  years  successively  has  laboured  in  the  work  of 
the  ministry  in  that  place  even  in  the  time  of  the  late  terrible  Indian  Warr 
when  many  a  score  fell  by  the  sword  both  upon  ye  right  hand  &  the  left,  & 
severall  others  forced  to  flight  for  want  of  bread  during  all  which  time  did 
watch  ward  and  scout  for  the  more  ease  and  reliefe  of  ye  Inhabitants;  and 
notwithstanding  that,  did  constantly  exercise  in  the  garrison  and  one  other 
every  Lords  Day  as  god  did  enable  him — But  being  now  advanced  to  Seventy 
Eight  years  of  age  and  incompassed  wth  a  great  many  infirmities,  and  unable 
to  perform  the  usual  Exercise  of  the  Ministry  the  People  have  not  only  calld 
another  Minister  but  stopt  their  hands  from  my  Subsistence,  where  upon  he  is 
greatly  reduced  having  neither  bread  to  eat  nor  Sufficient  Cloathing  to  in- 
counter  the  approaching  Winter — Wherefore  your  petitioner  most  humbly 
supplicates  that  your  Excellency,  the  councill,  and  Representatives  would  so 
compassionate  his  miserable  circumstances,  as  to  order  a  competent  mainte- 
nance during  life — And  your  Petitioner  shall  ever  pray, 

John  Buss. 

It  was  voted,  8  October  1718,  that  "the  Selectmen  of  Dover 
be  advised  to  do  their  duty  &  take  care  of  sd  John  Buss  &  supply 
him  with  what  he  is  in  necessity  of,  according  to  ye  law  of  this 
Province;  and  that  the  Selectmen  of  Dover  pay  him  twenty 
pounds  out  of  the  town  stock  to  be  paid  quarterly  from  year  to 
year."     [N.  H.  Province  Papers,  Vol.  XVII,  p.  736.] 

The  following  contract  shows  when  the  new  meeting  house 
was  built  at  the  Falls,  where  the  Sullivan  monument  now  stands. 
The  original  paper  is  in  the  possession  of  S.  H.  Shackford,  Esq., 
of  Boston.  The  signatures  and  names  of  witnesses  have  been 
torn  from  it : 

To  all  Christian  People  to  whom  this  Covenantor  instrument  in  writing  Shall 
Come  and  appear  now  Know  ye  that  I  John  Tomson  Sinior  off  the  township 
of  Dover  and  Provance  of  new  hempshir  do  heir  by  these  presence  grant  Cove- 
nant and  agree  with  the  parties  following  that  is  to  say  Leu*  Jeramiah  Burnum 
Lef'  Abraham  Bennick  Jonathan  Woodman  Leu*-*  Joseph  Davis  Stephen 
Jones  Philip  Chesley  John  Smith  Junior  of  the  foresaid  towne  and  provanc  I 
the  forsd  John  Tomson  do  by  these  presenc  bind  and  oblidge  me  to  fram  an 
meeting  house  at  Oyster  river  being  in  Length  fortie  foots  and  thirtic  six  foots 
in  bredth  and  twentie  footes  stude  with  an  Belfree  preportionble  to  the  house 
And  to  provyd  and  haill  all  the  timber  to  the  place  appointed  and  that  at  or 
before  the  thretie  one  day  of  July  next  ensewing  the  dait  hereof  And  we  the 
forsaid  parties  do  heir  by  these  presence  bind  and  oblidg  our  selves  conjunctlie 
and  severalie  to  pay  or  cause  to  be  payed  to  the  forsaid  John  Tomson  the  sume 
of  sevintie  three  pounds  money  inConsidderationof  the  work  don  by  him  in  the 
fors<*  fram  the  one  half  to  be  payde  in  money  when  all  the  timber  is  haled  and 
laid  in  the  place  and  the  other  half  in  money  when  the  frame  is  fite  to  be 


HISTORY    OF   DURHAM  I  73 

raised  the  fram  and  Belfree  being  in  figur  being  lyke  the  new  meet  house  off 
Hemptowne  And  for  the  trew  performanc  heir  of  our  hands  and  sealles  this 
nynteen  day  of  Janwary  one  thousand  seven  hundred  and  twelve  threeteen  in 
presenc  of  these  witnesses. 

Thus  we  know  just  when  the  first  meeting  house  at  Durham 
Falls  was  built  and  something  of  its  size  and  appearance.  The 
location  was  chosen  not  without  opposition  of  the  people  living  at 
the  Point.  Indeed,  another  meeting  house  was  built  at  the  Point 
soon  after.  July  3,  1719,  Francis  Mathes  deeded  to  the  inhabit- 
ants of  the  lower  part  of  the  parish  of  Oyster  River  one  half  of 
an  acre  of  land  and  road  thereto  two  rods  wide,  on  the  south 
side  of  the  mouth  of  Oyster  River,  so  long  as  the  same  should 
be  used  for  public  worship.  The  deed  shows  that  the  frame 
was  then  on  the  lot  and  was  to  be  erected  the  next  week.  [N.  H. 
Province  Deeds,  XVI,  104.] 

Dr.  Quint  at  one  time  confused  this  meeting  house  at  the  Point 
with  the  first  one  built  at  the  oyster  bed.  He  says  it  stood  upon 
a  knoll  on  the  land  owned  at  the  time  of  his  writing  by  John 
Mathes,  at  the  extremity  of  Durham  Point.  "  It  is  on  the  north- 
ern side  of  the  road,  but  a  few  rods  from  the  water  side.  It  is 
exactly  north  from  the  Mathes  burial  place;  or  rather  this  burial 
place  is  at  the  edge  of  the  knoll.  The  meeting  house  stood, 
doubtless,  within  four  or  five  rods,  northerly  of  that  inclosed  burial 
ground."  This  describes  the  location  of  the  opposition  meeting 
house  at  the  Point,  built  in  the  year  17 19.  There  is  no  record 
that  any  minister  ever  preached  therein  except  the  Rev.  Hugh 
Adams,  and  the  frame  was  taken  down  some  years  after,  trans- 
ported to  Portsmouth,  and  became  part  of  the  chapel  of  Dr. 
Buckminster's  church,  as  saith  tradition  recorded  in  the  Smith 
note-book. 

The  opposition  between  the  Falls  and  the  Point  in  the  matter 
of  meeting  house  and  ministry  is  further  shown  by  the  following 
petitions.  The  first  is  signed  by  persons  living  nearer  to  the 
Falls  and  was  read  11  November  17 15: 

To  the  Honbls  Geo.  Vaughan,  Esq.,  Lieut.  Gov,  Councill  &  representatives, 
convened  in  General  Assembly;  The  Humble  Petition  of  his  Maj«"  good 
subjects,  ye  Inhabitants  of  that  part  of  the  town  of   Dover  commonly 
called  Oyster  river,  Most  humbly  sheweth: 
Whereas  by  mutuall  agreem'  the  Inhabitants  of  Oyster  River  have,    for 
many  years  past,  made  choice  of  their  own  Minister  &  paid  his  salary,  accord- 
ing to  ye  conditions  of  sd  agreem4  as  it  appears  in  Dover  town  book  of  records, 
refference  thereto  being  had,  &  that  y°  selectmen  of  y  town  in  generall,   (two 
whereof  have  been  annually  chosen  w»hin  y  district  of  Oyster  River)  have  all 


174 


HISTORY   OF   DURHAM 


along  made  rates  for  ye  severall  ministers  &  taken  care  that  the  same  be  paid 
to  ye  sd  ministers  according  to  the  sallaries  they  have  been  agreed  w*h  for, 
untill  of  late  (viz.)  ye  last  year's  rate  is  either  by  ye  neglect  of  y  Constable 
or  ye  selectmen,  or  both,  so  retarded,  that  y  minister  wants  subsistence; 
nor  can  we  understand  that  ye  selectmen  have  or  are  abl  to  make  any  rate  this 
vear  for  y«  minister;  so  that,  either  some  few  of  us  must  maintain  a  minister 
or  we  must  be  w'hout  one  &  return  to  Dover  again,  wch  was  thought  a  hardship 
more  than  forty  years  ago;  &  a  liberty  granted  as  above;  &  much  more  hard 
will  it  be  now  we  are  increased  to  double  the  number  we  then  were;  so  that 
we  most  humbly  pray  yor  Honr»  will  please  to  send  for  y«  Constable  &  select- 
men to  answer  for  ye  neglect  as  above,  &  that  we  may  have  powr  granted  us, 
as  yor  Horn*  were  pleased  at  first  to  grant  unto  yc  Parish  of  Newington,  (viz.) 
to  chuse  three  or  five  p'sons  annually,  w**  being  chosen  by  a  majority  of  voices 
present  at  such  election,  may  assess  &  tax  y<=  Inhabitants  of  our  s<>  Parish  pro- 
portionably  in  a  rate  for  ye  discharging  such  a  sallary  as  the  Parish  shall  agree 
to  settle  upon  any  minister  of  the  Gospell  that  we  at  p'sent  have,  or  hereafter 
may  be  fixed  amongst  us;  Likewise,  that  we  may  have  powr  to  choose  &  settle 
a  schoolmaster  upon  such  terms  as  we  shall  agree,  wthout  any  other  regard 
to  the  town  in  generall  than  that  ye  Constable  annually  chosen  at  the  general 
town  meeting  for  collecting  ye  Prov:  tax  in  our  district,  may  also  collect  our 
Parish  dues;  And  yor  Petitioners  shall  ever  pray,  as  in  Duty  bound, 
Presented  by  Nath.  Hill  in  behalf  of  ye  subscribers. 


Jeremiah  Burnham 
Stephen  Jones 
Elias  Critchett 
Sampson  Doe 
Joseph  Dudey 
John  Burnham 
David  Davis 
Abraham  Bennick 
John  X  Gray, — mark 
John  Rawlins 
James  Bickford 
Sam'  X  Perkins — mark 
Will- X  Duly,— mark 
John  Doe 
John  York 
Joseph  Chesley 
John  X  Cromell, — mark 
John  Buss,  jun. 
Philip  Chesley 
Joseph  Davis 
John  Tompson,  sen. 
John  Smith 
Willm  Jackson 
David  Kincaid 
Jonathan  Chesley 
Valentine  Hill 
Ichabod  Chesley,  jun. 


Elias  Critchet,  jun. 

James  Nock 

John  Tompson 

Joseph  Jones 

John  Chesley 

John  x  Sias, — mark. 

Job  Renholds 

Sam1  Chesley,  jun. 

Sam1  X  Chesley, — mark 

Cornelius  Drisco 

Rob'  Burnham 

Peter  Mason 

Jon»  Simpson 

Rob1  Tompson 

Sam'  Hill 

John  X  Renalls, — mark 

Josh»  X  Davis, — mark 

Moses  Davis,  jun. 

Will"  Leathers 

Francis  Pitman 

Ely  Demeritt 

Naphtali  Kincaid 

James  Jackson 

Tho:  Wille 

James  Burnham 

Rob4  Huggins 

Jon*  Woodman 


Thomas  Alin 

[N.  H.  Province  Papers,  Vol.  Ill,  pp.  606-07. 


HISTORY   OF   DURHAM  1 75 

As  a  result  of  the  above  petition  the  assembly  ordered  that  the 
selectmen  of  Dover  should  "call  to  an  account  Jos.  Davis,  ye 
last  years  Constable  for  that  town,  in  ye  district  of  Oyster  River" 
and  see  that  he  pay  the  money  which  he  was  obliged  by  the  town 
warrant  to  collect,  and  that  the  selectmen  see  that  a  sufficient 
amount  should  be  assessed  for  the  support  of  the  present  minis- 
ter, Mr.  Buss,  "  untill  another  minister  shall  be  called  and  settled 
in  his  room."  This  shows  that  John  Buss  had  been  regularly 
installed  and  had  just  claims  upon  the  parish. 

The  following  counter  petition  was  presented  by  persons  living 
nearer  to  the  Point: 

To  the  Honourable  Governour  Councell  and  Representatives  Convened  in 
Generall  Assembly1 

Whereas  there  is  a  petition  Laid  before  your  honours  By  part  of  the  Inhabi- 
tants of  oyster  River  Expecting  thereby  to  Serve  their  own  Interest  though 
it  be  with  much  hardship  to  their  Neighbours 

We  the  Subscribers  being  Residents  or  free  holders  within  those  districts 
as  in  petition  mentioned  do  humbly  Referr  to  your  Consideration  these  things 
as  Reasons  of  objection  against  the  said  petition 

1  That  we  ought  to  have  had  knowledge  and  to  have  Conferred  with  them 
about  the  said  petition  and  whereas  they  keept  it  private  from  us  it  Showeth 
a  Secret  plotting  and  Contriving  against  our  Interest 

2  That  Some  of  their  Subscribers  as  we  Suppose  are  neither  Residents 
nor  freeholders  within  the  said  districts 

3  That  Some  of  their  Subscribers  do  denye  part  or  all  the  petition 

4  That  if  your  honours  Should  See  good  to  grant  the  Said  Petition  we  being 
farmars  Shall  then  be  So  bound  up  within  those  districts  not  haveing  Room 
to  advance  our  Estates — that  we  Shall  not  be  able  to  subsist  our  familyes 
and  to  mentain  a  minister  honourably 

5  That  a  Settled  Schoolmaster  will  be  of  no  Service  to  us  in  teaching  our 
Children  because  we  do  Live  so  Remote  and  are  also  divided  with  a  River  and 
Creeks — but  rather  as  we  have  hitherto  done  to  hire  a  Schoolmaster  for  our- 
selves and  our  adiacant  neighbours 

6  We  are  very  well  Satisfyed  with  our  towns  general  Election  of  Select  men 
Seeing  we  have  two  within  our  districts  who  are  well  acquainted  with  our  affairs 
and  we  do  count  it  hardship  to  be  denyed  our  former  privilidg 

these  Reasons  we  give  haveing  many  others  which  we  are  Loath  to  trouble 
your  honours  withal — we  humbly  hope  that  you  will  not  grant  their  petition — 
Except  it  be  only  to  the  petitioners  and  pleas  to  grant  us  the  Libertyes  that 
our  fathers  had  first  Settled  in  this  place 


176 


HISTORY   OF   DURHAM 


We  Remain  your  most  Humble  Servants 


1  Thomas  Edgerley  Sen 

2  John  Meder  Sen 

3  Edwerdus  Wakcham 

4  Thomas  Drew 

5  John  Daniell 

6  Joseph  Meder 

7  Ichabod  follet 

8  Joannes  bunker 

9  John  Williams 

io  Nathaneal  Laimmos 

11  william  hill 

12  Henry  Rines 

13  John  Edgerley 

14  Francis  Malhes 

15  Richard  denbo 

16  thomas  Rines 

17  Samuel  Williams 

18  Beniamen  bodge 

19  Sam"  Smith 

20  John  meder  Ju 

21  nicoles  meder 

22  Jno  ambler 

23  Moses  davis  Juner 

24  John  daves  Sen 

25  timmothy  davis 

26  Stephen  Jonsones 

27  John  Bickford 

28  beniamin  mathes 

29  Joseph  Edgerly 

30  John  willes  Senior 

31  John  Rand 

32  John  wille  juner 

33  John  Pender 

34  Beniamen  Pender 


35  John  footman  sener 

36  John  Smith  jun* 

his 

37  william  X  durgin 

mark 

38  James  Thomas 

39  Sallathan  denbo 

40  John:  Smith  Junr 

41  Samuill  wille 

42  francies  Mathes  Jum 

43  william  pitman 

44  John  Rand 

45  Samuel  Edgerley 

46  Joseph  Kent 

47  Thomas  footman 

48  Joseph  Stevenson 

49  William  Glines 

50  Batholomew  Stevenson 

his  mark 

51  James  F  Lingley 

52  william  wormwood 

53  Eleazar  Bickford 

54  Amos  pinkham 

55  James  Davis  Juner 

his 

56  John  M  Mondro 

mark 

57  Thomas  Davis 

58  Danel  Mishorve 

59  Daniel  Davies 

60  Joseph  ginkens 

61  James  Davis  the  Son  of  Moses 

Davis 
N.  H.  Town  Papers,  XI,  567.] 


This  petition  was  probably  presented  to  the  Council  by  Messrs. 
Jn°  Meader  and  John  Ambler,  20  December  1715,  or  6  January 
1715/6,  when  they  appeared  to  prosecute  the  "Counter  Petition." 
It  was  followed  by  further  petitions  which  are  here  presented: 

OYSTERIVER  PETITION  PRESENTED  APRILE  6TH  17 16  MINUTED 

To  the  Honbie  Geo:  Yaughan  Esq  L«  Gov  &  Command'  in  Cheif,  to  ye  Hon*'* 
the  Councill  &  representatives  of  his  Majtie»  Prov:  of  N.   Hamp«,   Con- 
vesned  in  Gen'  Assembly: — 
The  Petition  of  his  Maj"*»  Good  Subjects  sundry  y  Inhabitants  of  y«  Parish 
of  oyster  river,  wth  in  the  township  of  Dover — 
Most  Humbly  sheweth — 


HISTORY   OF   DURHAM  1 77 

That,  Agreeable  to  yor  hon3  resolve  (in  Janr  last  for  allowing  ye  Inhabitants 
of  y<>  Parish  of  oysteriver  till  ye  first  sessions,  of  y«  Gen1:  Assembly,  after 
y«  tenth  of  March  next  ensuing  y«  sd  Jam*  in  ordr:  to  a  friendly  agreement  & 
settlem'  of  ye  differences  among  themselves,)  We,  the  Subscribe  being  In- 
habitants of  ye  sd  Parish  of  oyster  river,  or  ye  majr  part  of  us,  have  had  a  meet- 
ing in  sd  Parish,  at  wch  time  &  place,  we  chose  a  Committe,  &  impowered 
them  y«  sd  Committe,  as  far  as  in  us  lay,  to  meet  &  treat  wth  a  Committe 
from  our  adverse  Pho  in  ordr  to  ye  reconciling  all  misunderstandings  &  differ- 
ences in  sd  Parish.  The  sd  Committes  had  a  meeting  accordingly:  th6  alto- 
gether ineffectual  &  to  no  purpose,  as  we  find  by  ye  return  of  y°  sd  Committe 
on  our  behalf:  Wherefore,  we  Psume  once  more  to  Address  yor  hon™  for  yo» 
resolves  on  this  matter  as  soon  as  yor  hon"  in  yor  wisdom  shall  see  meet: 
(viz1)  y  we  may  be  impowered  to  call  a  Parish  meeting,  in  ordr  to  y  doing 
wh«  may  be  necessary  &  proper  for  ye  obtaining  &  Settling  a  ministr  w<h  in  our 
sd  Parish:  for  y*  ye  means  Pscribed  by  yor  Hon"  for  a  reconciliation  to  be 
made  among  ourselves,  has  proved  of  none  effect,  &  we  plainly  seeing  y«  a 
further  suspension  of  yor  Hon"  determination  of  this  matter  will  much  rather 
widen,  than  narrow  this  breach,  Inasmuch,  as  our  cheif  end  &  design  is  y8 
speedy  settlem'  of  a  learned  &  authordox  ministr  among  us,  that  we  may  no 
longer  be  sheep  without  a  shepherd,  but  y  we  may  be  in  the  use  of  means  for 
ye  Promotion  of  Christianity;  w«h  is  what  our  neighbours  in  ye  lowr  part  of  our 
Parish  are  mainly  making  their  Court  against,  wch  is  plainly  demonstrable 
by  their  overtures  made,  which  they  so  strenuously  stand  to,  for  a  complyance 
wtb,  (viz«)  y  a  minister  be  treated  wth  to  preach  at  both  meeting  houses, 
alternately  wthin  sd  Parish,  woh  is  so  forreign  from  reason  y  yre  is  no  unpre- 
judiced rationall  man  but  w>>  will  condemn  so  impracticable  a  project. — Our 
Neighboring  Parish,  in  ye  same  town  w"  our  selves  are  now  destitute  of  a 
ministr  as  we  are,  who  not  long  since  had  a  settled  ordained  ministr  among 
them,  &  who  lost  them  upon  no  other  consideration  than  for  being  urged  & 
solicited  to  preach  at  two  Places,  wch  he  said  was  so  unnreasonable  &  hard  upon 
him,  as  he  could  not  Comply  wth  thereupon  lost  them:  Now  can  it  be  reason- 
able to  expect  one  man  to  settle  undr  such  disadvantages  &  hardships  woh 
was  y°  Pure  cause  of  ye  removal  of  another;  &  again  yr  requesting  a  ministr 
to  preach  at  two  places,  is  so  rare  y*  tis  scarce  to  be  heard  of,  once  in  an  age, 
&  then  you  are  as  certain  to  hear  a  denyal  as  y*  ye  thing  was  asked  wch  Consid- 
eration (in  our  opinion)  might  have  been  a  Sufficient  disswasive  to  our  Counter 
Petitioners,  from  insisting  on  so  unreasonable  a  point:  &  thus  y«  case  stands. 

May  it  Please  yor  Hon". 

We  who  have  been  at  y  charge  of  ye  new  meeting  house,  so  far  as  y°  same 
is  built  &  finished,  have  offered  it  to  be  a  Parish  house,  wth  this  Proviso,  y 
all  ye  Inhabitants  wth  in  sd  Parish  Joyn  wth  us  in  equall  proportion  complcatly 
to  finish  it  &  agree  constantly  to  maintain  y«  Publick  worship  of  God  therein 
On  ye  Lords  day,  -w°h  sd  house  stands  in  y°  most  convenient  &  proper  place 
wthin  sd  Parish  for  ye  accommodation  of  all  ye  Inhabitants  in  Gen1:  that  now 
are,  or  hereafter  may  be  settled  w">in  the  same: — As  to  any  information  w«b 
y«  Hon"  may  have  had  relating  to  ye  Seituation  of  sd  meeting  house,  its  being 
near  y  head  line  of  our  Parish,  they  are  false  suggestions,  for  tis  a  positive 
truth,  &  in  no  wise  to  be  doubted,  y  our  new  meeting  house  stands  nearer  to 
12 


1 78 


HISTORY   OF    DURHAM 


y  lowr  part  of  s<*  Parish,  or  next  y  sea,  by  two  miles,  than  ic  doth  to  our  head 
line,  so  y»  if  ye  sd  house  is  not  well  situated  tis  because  it  is  not  far  upW  enough 
towd  our  head  line,  &  tis  certain  y«  what  further  settlemh»  there  will  be  in  sd 
Parish,  or  besure  most  of  them  will  be  above  sd  meeting  house  wch  is  argued 
from  y  far  greater  quantity  of  land's  being  above,  than  w<  is  below  sd  house, 


Nathi  Hill 
Jaramiah  Burnham 
Stephen  Jones 
Joseph  Jones 
Jonathan  Woodman 

John  Smith 
Philip  Chesle 
William  Jackson 
Yolintine  Hill 
John  Footman 
Samson  Doo 
Cornalus  Drisco 
David  Lyntard 
James  Thomas 

his 
John  £  Gray 

mark 

Job  Renels 

Robard  Burnnum 
John  Burnum 
John  York 
timothy  Connor 

his  mark 
John  s  munsie 

his  mark 
Timothy  T  Moses 
Joseph  Daniel 

his 
John  J  Sias 

mark 
John  Doo 
William  duly 
Robert  Huckins 

Robart  tomson 
John  Rawlings 
John  tomson 

William  burly 

his 
John  +  Runals 
mark 


Ichabod  Chesle 
Samuel  Cheslie 
Samuel  Chesle  Juner 
John  Chesle 
William  Letheres 

his  mark 
James  davis   1 1 
Elias  Critchett  Ju 
Elias  Critchett 
Abraham  bennick 
Eley  demeret  Junr 
James  Jakson 
Thomus  Wille 
Peter  Mason 
James  Burnum 

Thomas  Allen 

his 
John   O  Crommet 

mark 
Joseph  Davis 

his 
William  X  Durgin 
mark 
his 
Jonathan   |  Chesle 

mark 
John  Buss  Juner 
Edward  Letheres  Siner 

James  Bikford 

Joseph  Chesle 
James  durgin 
James  Xock 

his 
Samuel  X  Wille 

mark 
John  Davies 
Joshua  Davis 
Josep  Dudy 

his 
frances  X  footman 

mark 


HISTORY   OF    DURHAM  1 79 

"A  Petition  Psened  by  John  Ambler  In  behalf  of  sundry  the 
Inhabitants  of  Oysteriver  May  2d  1716."  Evidently  written 
by  Elder  Ambler  himself  in  a  neat  quaint  handwriting  with 
small  characters. 

To  the  Honourable  Lif'  Gouernour  Councell  and  Representatiues  conuened 
in  generall  Assembly: 

May  it  please  your  honours 

Whereas  our  brethren  and  neighbours  with  whome  we  would  gladly  haue 
had  the  oppertunity  of  agreeing  according  to  your  honours  aduice  haue  now 
made  their  Second  address  to  your  honours  by  way  of  petition  as  if  they  are 
Rather  willing  to  Inuade  our  priuiledg  than  to  Comply  by  a  brotherly  or  neigh- 
bourly agreement 

We  therefore  his  Maiestyes  good  and  orderly  Subjects  do  humbly  Answer 
and  Reply  against  their  Second  petition — as  also  Intimateing  against  their 
disorderly  Carryings  on — thus — 

First — If  our  Late  pastor  at  douer  haue  Left  his  Flock  and  people  for  Ends 
best  known  between  god  and  himself  and  haueing  Some  Infermity  of  body  did 
according  to  his  thoughts  declare  that  he  supposed  that  his  present  Infermity 
might  come  by  Reason  of  his  often  going  between  the  two  meeting  houses 
we  Referr  this  to  your  honours  Consideration — whether  his  body  was  brought 
down  by  trauell — or  whether  the  fatness  and  grossness  of  his  body  might 
not  rather  signifye  to  us  that  more  Bodily  Exercise  might  haue  been  helpfull 
against  his  Disease — it  may  be  necessary  therefore  that  we  may  all  Consider 
the  hand  of  god  in  it — that  when  the  people  began  to  trouble  one  another 
and  to  Inuade  one  anothers  priuiledg  then  it  pleased  our  god  to  Send  our  pastor 
away — for  the  great  Shepherd  &  Command  is  that  his  pastor  Sheep  should 
Liue  in  Loue — therefore  we  do  humbly  hope  that  your  honours  will  not 
account  this  any  Reason  why  their  petition  Should  be  granted. 

2  Whereas  the  Honoured  Gouernour  and  Councell  was  pleased  to  alow 
us  time  to  make  offers  of  agreement  to  one  another — we  did  offer  to  our  neigh- 
bours ouerlooking  their  disorder  in  their  building  of  their  meeting  hous — that 
if  they  would  help  us  to  build  a  ministers  house  on  the  personage  that  we 
would  agree  that  the  meeting  should  be  Every  other  Sabbath  day  at  the  old 
meeting  house  untill  Such  time  as  we  do  build  a  new  one  and  then  to  haue  the 
meeting  continued  by  turns  att  the  two  new  meeting  houses — and  now  whereas 
we  haue  offered  so  friendly  and  Brother  Like  to  our  neighbors  who  do  Endeauour 
to  Inuade  our  priviledg  we  humbly  hope  that  your  honours  may  Consider 
that  our  offer  to  them  is  not  only  fair  but  that  we  do  Condescend  and  stoop 
to  them  in  the  same — and  therefore  that  you  will  not  see  good  to  put  us  to 
any  hardship  or  hazards  by  granting  their  petition — 

3  Whereas  our  brethern  and  neighbors  with  whome  we  would  gladly  all 
along  haue  Joyned  if  they  had  gone  to  work  orderly — and  had  placed  their 
meeting  hous  something  for  our  Conueniency  and  had  not  Set  it  so  unreason- 
ably beyond  the  Center  of  the  Inhabitants  haue  now  petitioned  for  a  parish 
meeting  we  do  with  Submition  to  your  honours  humbly  answer  that  as  they 
haue  without  order  or  government  built  themselves  a  meetinghouse  we  do 
not  desire  to  Inuade  their  priuiledg  in  the  same  neither  are  we  willing  to 
agree  or  Consent  to  a  parish  meeting  in  order  to  the  Establishing  of  that 
meeting  house  that  is  Erected  and  built  without  either  gouerment  or  order — 
but  as  we  haue  followed  the  order  of  our  town  and  haue  Closed  with  douer 


i8o 


HISTORY   OF    DURHAM 


and  haue  theieby  met  with  the  advantage  of  mentaining  our  own  piiuiledg 
also  at  oyster  Riuer  Lowei  meeting  house  by  the  Condecention  and  Labours 
of  the  reuerend  and  faithfull  Mr  mathew  Short — we  do  therefore  humbly 
hope  that  your  honours  will  not  see  good  to  deny  or  deprive  us  of  our  priuiledg 
and  our  Choyc  till  Such  time  as  our  neighbours  minds  do  come  down  to  a 
Christian  Complyance 

ffrances  mathes 

Jno  Ambler 

Joseph  Meder 

John  Williams 


Aprill  y«  7">  1716. 


in  behalf 

of 

the 

Rest 


We  being  conuened  Together  February  ye  20«»>  I7y§ 

These  are  to  Certifye  al  men  whom  it  may  Ccncern  That  we  the  Subscribers 
together  with  the  men  whome  we  do  make  Choyse  of  do  Endeauor  to  stand 
by  our  priuiledge  in  the  ministry  of  the  gospcll  in  the  Lower  part  of  oyster 
River  and  we  the  subscribers  do  meke  choyce  of  and  appoint  four  men  or  so 
many  of  them  as  Shall  be  needfull.  namely  Seig  Joseph  Meder  jur  Frances 
Mathes  John  Williams  and  John  amblei  to  Iry  to  agree  with  our  neighbours 
at  the  head  of  the  Riuer  in  order  to  an  honourable  agreement  between  us  and 
our  neighbouis.  That  we  may  by  the  blesing  of  god  haue  the  gospell  settled 
amongst  us 


John  Maider 
his  X  mark 
Thomas  Edgerley 
William  pirkins 
his  mark 
Joseph  Kent 
John  Wille 
Thomas  Footman 
Thomas  Drew 
Moses  Dauis  Jun. 
James  Langle 
James  Dauis  Junr 
Stephen  Jenkens 
John  Bickford 
John  Kent 
Beniamin  Pinder 
Beniamin  Mathes 
William  Pitman 
William  Wille 
Joseph  Stephenson 
Samuell  Wille 
John  Daniall 
Samuel  Edgerle 
Francis  Mathes 
John  Dauis  sen 
John  Wille  Jun 
Edward  Wakeham 
timothy  daues 
Nicolas  Meder 
peter  denmor 
Eleazar  Bickford 
William  Clay 


John  Edgerly 
William  glines 
John  rand 
Ichabod  follet 
Thomas  Dauis 
daniel  dauis 
Joseph  hix 
Beniamin  bodge 
William  Hill 
Samuel  Williams 
Thomas  Rines 
Joseph  Bickfort 
William  Wormwod 
Salathan  Denmoor 
Abraham  mathes 
John  pinder 
abraham  Stephenson 
Joseph  Edgerley 
Samuel  Adams 
Daniel  Misharve 
Napt.  Kinket 
PI—  (illegible) 
Philip  Duly  S 
Philip  Duly  J 
Joseph  Meder  Jun 
John  Williams 
John  footman 
Robard  Kent 
Beniamin  footman 
Joseph  footman 
Joseph  Danel  iunr 
Joseph  Jenkins 


HISTORY   OF   DURHAM  l8l 

This  petition  was  copied  from  the  original  document  lent  by 
Isaac  W.  Hammond — the  original  orthography  preserved. 

The  original  is  now  in  possession  of  New  Hampshire  His- 
torical Society. 

The  House  voted,  4  May  17 16: 

That  y«  agreement  of  y«  1owns  of  Douer  w">  y«  part  of  y°  toun  called  Oyster 
river  ab'  maintaining  a  minister  among  them  at  their  own  cost  and  charge  be 
confirmed;  &  that  y°  new  meeting  house  built  there  be  y°  place  of  y»  public 
worship  of  God  in  that  District,  and  established  a  Distinct  parish  with  all  rights 
and  privileges  belonging  to  a  Parish,  wth  full  power  &  authority  to  call  &  settle 
a  minister  theie  &  make  assessm'  for  y  payrn'  of  his  Sallary  &  all  other  Parish 
charges,  equally  on  y«  several  inhabitants  within  y  district  &  annually  to 
chuse  five  p'sons,  freeholders  wtiin  said  Parish,  to  make  y°  tax  &  manage  all 
affairs  of  the  Parish,  &  y  p'sons  so  chosen,  wth  a  Justice  of  the  Peace  of  this 
Province  shall,  whenever  ihey  see  cause,  call  a  Parish  meeting  to  transact  any 
matt"  concerning  ye  Parish,  &  y  ye  first  meeting  be  on  Monday  y°  14th  instant, 
at  y°  afoiesd  New  meeting-house,  &  y*  John  Thompson,  y°  present  Constable 
of  that  distiict,  notify  y«  inhabitants  ye  of;  and  further,  that  all  p'sons  that 
have  of  late  years  paid  to  ye  minister  there,  shall  continue  to  pay  yr  proportion 
to  him  y  shall  succeed  in  sd  office. 

By  order  of  the  house  of  Representatives, 

Theo  Atkinson,  Cler. 

Another  petition,  presented  in  17 17  and  favorably  considered 
was  as  follows: 

The  Petition  of  sundry  of  the  Inhabitants  of  Oyster  River  in  Dover,  most 
humbly  sheweth:  That,  Whereas  sometime  about  a  year  and  a  half  agoe,  a 
Petition  was  then  preferred  to  the  General  Assembly  then  sitting  at  Ports- 
mouth, by  several  of  our  neighbors  in  said  place  to  be  made  a  District  of  them- 
selves,— which  being  wrongly  represented  unto  said  Assembly,  a  vote  thereupon 
was  passed  in  both  Houses,  which  being  very  prejuditial  unto  the  Interest  of 
the  whole: — 

Your  Petitioners  therefore  do  humbly  Pray  that  as  there  was  only  a  vote, 
but  no  Act  passed,  that  there  may  be  a  fair  hearing  of  the  whole  matter  before 
your  Excellency  in  Council,  that  in  your  wisdom  you  may  see  good  to  Reverse 
the  same;  and  that  a  reasonable  proportion  of  land  may  be  allotted  us  from 
the  township  of  Dover,  for  a  more  amicable  agreement  between  each  other 
in  carrying  on  the  Worship  of  God;  And  seeing  we  have  two  meeting  houses, 
we  humbly  pray  that  in  wisdom  you  will  so  determine,  that  the  Inhabitants 


182 


HISTORY    OF    DURHAM 


may  go  to  each  of  them  every  other  meeting  day;  And  your  petitioners  shall 
ever  pray. 


Thomas  Edgerly 
Thomas  Drew- 
John  Pinder 

William  Gloyns 

[Glines] 
Joseph  Edgerle 
Joseph  Kent 
John  Footman 
John  Danel 
John  Kent 
Samuel  Edgerly 
Benjamin  Pinder 
Benjamin  Footman 
Robert  Kent 
John  Davis 
Joseph  Danel 
Eleazer  Bickford 
Stephen  Jenkins 
Benjamin  Mathes 
James  Langle 
Francis  Mathes,  jun. 
Nathaniel  Randal 
Samuel  Davis 
John  Williams,  jun. 
Joseph  Hix 
Benjamin  Body 
James  Davis,  junr. 
Samuel  Williams 
Bartholomew  Stephenson 
TimothyDavis 
Zacharias  Edgerly 
Joseph  Xudder 


Moses  Davis,  jun: 
John  Rand 
Edward  Graham 

[Wakeham] 
Abraham  Mathes 

John  Bickford 
William  Wormwood 
Joseph  Bickford 
Thomas  Footman 
Joseph  Stephenson 
Joseph  Footman 
Thomas  Davis 
Francis  Mathes 
William  Hill 
Daniel  Misharve 
Joseph  Jenkins 
Henery  Rines 
Daniel  Davis 
Thomas  Rains 
James  Davis 
Abraham  Stephenson 
John  Edgerle 
Solomon  Davis 
Salathiel  Denbo 
William  Clary 
Ichabod  Follet 
William  Rains 
Samuel  Smith 
Philip  Duly 
John  Williams 
John  Ambler 


In  consequence  of  this  petition  we  find  the  following  voted 
9  May  1718, 

Whereas,  the  Parish  of  Oyster  River,  in  Dover,  have  by  a  petition  p'ferred 
to  the  Gen'  Assembly  prayed  that  the  ministry  w">in  s<»  Parish  may  be  settled, 
so  as  may  best  accommodate  the  inhabitants  of  sd  Parish, 

Voted,  That  the  Minister  for  the  time  being  do  preach  at  both  the  old  and 
new  Parish  meeting-houses  alternately  in  s<*  Parish,  excepting  the  three  winter 
months,  wch  shall  be  left  to  the  choice  of  sd  minister.  [Provincial  Papers,  III, 
730.] 

The  Rev.  Hugh  Adams  records,  under  date  of  8  June  1718, 
"Lord's  day  (at  my  first  preaching  in  the  old  meeting  house, 


HISTORY   OF   DURHAM  1 83 

by  order  of  the  Government)  baptized  Abraham  Ambler,  son  of 
Bro.  John  Ambler  of  Quochecho  Ch,"  and  again,  under  date  of 
19  October  1718,  "at  the  old  meeting  house,  then  and  there,  he 
being  propounded  in  the  Congregation  publicly,  the  preceding 
Sabbath  for  the  same  Office,  and  no  person  objecting  in  the  mean 
time,  John  Ambler,  one  of  the  Brethren  of  the  Church,  by  the 
Major  votes,  was  chosen  Deacon  thereof."  "The  parsonage 
lot  where  the  old  meeting  house  formerly  stood"  is  mentioned  in 
1746. 

A  public  parish  meeting,  held  1  April  171 7,  voted  that  Rev. 
Hugh  Adams  should  be  their  minister  at  a  salary  of  £100  and  use 
of  the  parsonage,  and  ten  acres  of  land  granted  by  the  town, 
and  £70  for  his  settlement  to  be  paid  within  two  years.  The 
committee  met  Mr.  Adams  soon  after  above  date  "in  the  eastern 
chamber  of  Capt.  Hill's  house"  and  agreed  with  him  for  a  salary 
of  £104,  half  of  which  was  to  be  paid  at  the  end  of  each  six 
months,  according  to  depositions  made  by  Joseph  Davis,  senior, 
and  Abraham  Bennick,  senior,  in  1733.  [See  Court  Files  at  Con- 
cord, N.  H.] 

The  church  at  the  Falls  was  organized  and  the  Rev.  Hugh 
Adams  was  installed  26  March  1718,  though  Mr.  Adams  had  been 
preaching  there  nearly  two  years.  Under  that  date  Nathaniel 
Hill  and  Stephen  Jones  wrote  to  the  Boston  News  Letter  as  follows: 

This  day  (through  the  smiles  of  Heaven  upon  us)  we  had  a  Church  gathered 
here,  in  the  Decency  and  Order  of  the  Gospel,  and  our  Teacher,  the  Reverend 
Mr.  Hugh  Adams  was  then  consecrated  and  Established  the  Pastor  thereof, 
who  then  preached  from  that  Text  in  Cant,  3,  II;  we  being  then  favored  with 
the  Presence  and  Approbation  of  some  Reverend  Pastors  of  the  next  Neighbor- 
ing Churches,  with  the  Honoured  Messengers  thereof  at  the  said  Solemnity, 
in  our  New  Meeting-House,  wherein  they  gave  the  Right  Hand  of  Fellowship, 
As  witness  our  hands, 

Nathaniel  Hill 
Stephen  Jones 

The  account  of  the  same  event,  as  given  by  the  Rev.  Hugh 
Adams  in  the  records  of  the  church,  is  as  follows: 

March  26,  1718.  This  day  through  the  grace  of  God  our  Saviour  we  had 
a  Church  orderly  gathered  with  the  presence  and  approbation  of  the  Pastors 
and  messengers  of  the  churches  of  Newington  and  of  Quochecho.  The  ReV 
Mr.  Jonathan  dishing  prayed.  I  preached  from  the  text  Cant.  3:11,  and  made 
a  short  prayer.  Then  I  read  our  Confession  of  Faith  and  Church  Covenant, 
signed  by  me  and  Nathaniel  Hill,  Sampson  Doe,  Stephen  Jones,  Samuel  Emer- 


184  HISTORY   OF   DURHAM 

son,  Joseph  Dudey,  John  Allen,  James  Nock,  James  Langley  and  Samuel 
Edgerly. 

Then  the  Rev<>  Mr.  Cushing,  Pastor  of  Cochecho  Chh  being  chosen  by  the 
Council  of  the  Chhs  present  for  it,  made  a  decent  speech  to  the  said  1  en  brethren 
and  to  the  whole  Assembly,  whether  any  person  had  any  thing  to  object  against 
their  establishing  me  the  Pastor  of  this  Church.  No  person  then  objecting, 
he  propounded  me  to  said  Church  as  their  Pastor.  To  which  they  all  voting 
with  uplifted  hands,  then  I  declared  my  acceptance. 

Then  the  sd  Mr.  Cushing  read  publicly  the  Testimonial  of  my  former  Ordi- 
nation at  Braintree,  signed  by  the  Rev<*  Doctor  Increase  Mather  and  his  son 
Doctor  Cotton  Mather  of  the  old  North  Church  in  Boston,  by  Revd  Mr.  James 
Keith,  the  Hoary  Pastor  of  the  Church  in  Bridgewater,  who  laid  their  hands 
on  my  Head  in  that  Ordination,  Signed  also  by  the  Rev*  Nehemiah  Walker, 
Pastor  of  the  Church  of  Roxbury.  Then  the  Revd  Mr.  Joseph  Adams,  by  a 
pertinent  speech,  gave  unto  me  as  pastor  and  to  our  said  Church  the  Right 
Hand  of  Fellowship.  Then  we  sang  Ps  132,  13-18.  Then  I  pronounced  the 
blessing. 

The  Rev.  Hugh  Adams,  son  of  John  and  Avis  of  Boston,  and 
probably  of  Scotch  origin,  was  born  7  May  1676  and  was  graduated 
at  Harvard  College  in  1697.  He  preached  in  South  Carolina  a 
few  years  and  was  ordained  at  Braintree,  Mass.,  10  Septem- 
ber 1707.  He  was  dismissed  from  there  22  August  17 10  and 
preached  at  Chatham,  Mass.,  1711-1715.  He  preached  for  a 
short  time  in  17 16  at  Georgetown,  Me.,  and  in  the  latter  part 
of  that  year  came  to  Oyster  River.  He  was  something  of  a 
physician  as  well  as  minister  and  once  practised  the  healing  art 
on  the  famous  Jesuit  priest,  Sebastian  Ralle,  at  Georgetown.  He 
says  the  cure  was  effected  in  three  days  and  without  charge. 

During  his  pastorate  of  twenty-one  years  in  Durham  the 
church  records,  which  cover  only  the  first  ten  years,  show  that 
he  added  more  than  one  hundred  members  to  the  church  and 
baptized  694  persons.  Surely  this  is  a  remarkable  record  and 
goes  far  to  offset  the  discords  and  oppositions  which  troubled 
him  during  the  last  part  of  his  ministry.  He  and  Col.  James 
Davis  did  not  agree  and  both  were  probably  too  independent  to 
be  swayed  by  anybody  else.  The  abusive  language  used  by 
controversialists  of  those  times  is  not  a  fair  index  of  character 
but  the  fault  of  the  age.  Mr.  Adams  was  strict  in  discipline  and 
very  plain  and  unsparing  in  his  written  statements,  yet  he  had 
a  kind  and  sympathetic  heart.  His  interpretations  of  Scripture 
were  sometimes  fanciful,  judged  by  modern  standards,  yet  the 
habit  of  the  century  was  to  make  an  odd  passage  mean  anything 


HISTORY   OF   DURHAM  1 85 

that  the  preacher  wanted  to  say,  to  which  the  allegorical  method 
lent  aid.  He  thought  that  he  had  prevailing  power  in  prayer  as 
well  as  Elijah,  the  logical  consequence  of  a  literal  interpretation, 
and  once  he,  too,  shut  up  the  heavens  in  drought  for  three  months. 
In  the  afflictions  of  his  opponents  he  saw  the  hand  of  God,  just 
as  the  Hebrew  prophets  saw  it  in  national  calamities.  Indeed, 
his  church  records  and  petitions  to  the  General  Assembly  show 
that  he  was  saturated  with  the  language  and  spirit  of  the  Old 
Testament  more  than  of  the  New.  He  was  eccentric  and  opin- 
ionated, spoke  his  mind  freely  and  so  roused  opposition,  yet  the 
great  majority  of  the  parish  evidently  stood  by  him.  He  records 
the  observance  of  a  day  of  fasting  and  prayer  "kept  by  our 
church  at  the  house  of  Dea.  John  Williams  on  account  of  some 
preternatural  troubles  about  their  house,"  when  he  preached  from 
II  Cor.  xii :  7  and  I  John  iii :  8.  Evidently  he  considered  the  devil 
to  be  the  author  of  said  troubles.  This  service  was  a  sort  of 
exorcism. 

He  had  difficulty  about  collecting  his  salary,  leading  to  con- 
siderable litigation,  and  no  settlement  was  reached  till  after  his 
death.  Twice  he  sued  the  town  and  brought  suit  in  court  against 
his  successor,  Mr.  Gilman,  for  appropriation  of  lands  granted  to 
the  minister.  He  was  dismissed  by  Council  23  January  1739, 
yet  he  continued  to  preach  at  the  church  at  Durham  Point. 
The  town  voted,  28  March  1743,  "that  Mr.  Hugh  Adams  shall 
have  twenty  pounds  of  the  new  issue  bills  of  credit  yearly  during 
his  abode  in  the  town  of  Durham,  Provided  he  set  down  satiesfied 
and  Preach  no  more  in  said  town  for  the  futer,  but  if  he  preach 
any  more  in  sd  town  then  this  vote  to  be  thereby  voide  and  of 
none  effect."  This  is  believed  to  be  the  only  historical  instance 
where  a  town  has  tried  to  hire  a  minister  to  stop  preaching. 

A  petition  was  presented  by  Francis  Mathes,  15  February  1739/ 
40,  or  less  than  a  month  after  Mr.  Adams'  dismissal,  signed  by 
fifty-seven  persons,  about  all  of  the  male  inhabitants  of  the 
Point  and  of  Lubberland,  asking  for  a  separate  parish.  Their 
request  was  denied,  yet  the  petition  shows  that  Mr.  Adams  could 
not  have  been  an  unworthy  nor  an  unpopular  man  to  have  been 
quite  unanimously  desired  as  their  minister  by  a  section  embrac- 
ing half  of  the  town,  and  doubtless  he  had  many  friends  in  the 
other  half.  It  shows  also  who  the  residents  of  the  Point  and  of 
Lubberland  were  in  1740: 


1 86  HISTORY   OF    DURHAM 

Petition  of  Frances  Mathes  and  others  for  a  new  parish  in  Durham.  To 
His  Excellency  Jonathan  Belcher  Esqr  Governor  and  Commander  In  Chief  in 
■&  over  His  Majesty's  Province  of  New  Hampshire  in  New  England,  the 
Honb|e  His  Majesty's  Council  and  House  of  Representatives  for  said  Province 
in  General  Court  Convened  Jany  313'  1739.  The  Petition  of  Sundry  of  the 
Inhabitants  of  the  Town  of  Durham  in  Said  Province  Humbly  Shews, 

That  the  Inhabitants  of  the  Said  Town  are  divided  into  two  parties  Respect- 
ing their  Ecclesiastical  affairs,  the  One  such  as  adhere  to  the  Reverend  Mr  Hugh 
Adams  the  late  Minister  of  Said  Town  &  who  continues  so  to  the  said  party, 
the  other  (who  are  much  the  greater)  are  such  as  have  oppos'd  his  Standing  in 
that  Relation  to  them,  &  still  Continue  to  do  so.  That  notwithstanding  it 
was  the  opinion  &  Result  of  the  late  Ecclesiastical  Council  held  there  that  it 
would  not  be  Expedient  for  him  to  be  any  longer  the  Minister  of  the  said 
Town  yet  considering  his  former  Services  his  advanced  years  and  the  unhappy 
Circumstances  of  himself  &  family  they  Earnestly  Recommended  and  press'd 
it  upon  the  said  Inhabitants  that  they  should  Liberally  make  provision  for 
his  Support  during  the  Stay  of  himself  &  Family  among  them, — which  is  what 
would  be  highly  agreeable  to  your  Petitioners, 

That  altho  Several  propositions  have  been  made  touching  that  matter  yet 
nothing  has  been  agreed  on  nor  any  care  taken  to  secure  the  performance 
thereof  in  the  manner  Recommended  as  aforesaid, 

That  your  Petitioners  apprehend  it  would  be  a  great  Indecency  if  he  who 
was  once  &  so  long  the  Minister  of  the  said  Town  should  have  no  other  Provision 
made  for  his  Support  than  what  the  Law  provides  for  one  of  the  poor  of  the 
Town  and  that  he  should  be  Reduced  to  a  Necessity  of  Depending  upon  such  a 
Subsistence, 

That  your  Petitioners  are  desirous  still  to  sit  under  his  Ministry  and  are  will- 
ing to  support  him  &  his  family  Suitable  to  his  character  &  Station  among 
them,  and  conceive  that  his  being  comfortably  supported  would  have  a  good 
Tendency  &  be  the  Means  of  making  peace  in  the  Town  (respecting  Ecclesias- 
tical matters)  and  would  keep  all  parties  quiet  &  easy.  But  your  Petitioners 
however  willing  are  not  of  ability  to  afford  such  Support  while  they  are  Subject 
to  &  pay  toward  the  Maintenance  of  another  Minister  in  the  Town. 

Wherefore  they  most  Humbly  pray  that  they  with  Such  others  of  the  said 
Town  as  will  associate  with  them  (not  Exceeding  the  one  half)  may  be  Exemp- 
ted from  paying  toward  the  Support  of  any  other  Minister  &  may  be  discharged 
from  all  charges  of  that  nature  laid  upon  them  by  Law  by  their  Opponents 
from  the  time  of  the  aforesaid  Result  and  may  be  Incorporated  as  a  Parish 
during  the  Life  of  the  said  Mr.  Adams  in  order  to  maintain  him  &  his  Family 
&  to  Enjoy  the  Benefit  of  his  Ministry. 

Or  that  the  Town  in  General  may  be  Obliged  to  afford  him  a  Comfortable 
Subsistence  during  his  abode  there  Or  that  Such  other  Method  may  be  pursued 
as  this  Hon^  Court  in  their  Great  Wisdom  &  goodness  shall  think  proper  for 


HISTORY   OF    DURHAM 


I87 


the  peace  of  the  Town  &  the  Ease  of  that  aged  Gentleman — and  your  peti- 
tioners as  in  duty  bound  shall  ever  pray  &c. 

Francis  Mathes 

Thomas  Footman 

Thomas  Drew 

Joseph  Wheeler 

William  Lord 

John  Edgerly 

Stephen  Wille 

Joseph  Stevenson 

John  Footman 

Joseph  Footman 

Benjamin  Pender 

John  Durgen 

Benjamin  Durgen 

Benjamin  Pinder  Jun 

Francis  Durgen 

Joseph  Drew 

John  Kent 

Moses  Edgerly 

John  Kent  Junr 

John  Drewe 

Benjamin  Benet 

James  Durgain  Jun 

William  Durgain 

Will™  Durgain  Jun 

Joseph  Durgain 

Thomas  Bickford 

Abraham  Stevenson 

John  Bickford 

[N.   H. 


Towerthey  Durgin 
Joshua  Durgain 
Hezekiah  Marsh 
Joseph  Duda 
Joseph  Duda  Jun. 
Benmor  Duda 
John  Cromet 
Phillip  Cromet 
David  Davis 
Jacob  Tash 
Isaac  Mason 
Nathaniel  Watson 
Nathaniel  Frost 
John  Smart 
John  Mason 
Benjamin  Burdet 
Pumfret  Whitehouse 
Vallitin  Hill 
Sam"  Adams 
Sam'  Willey 
Joseph  Bickford 
Abraham  Benneck 
Benjamin  Benneck 
William  Wormwood 
Joseph  Edgerly 
William  Accason 
Joseph  Edgly 

Province   Papers,   V,   23.] 


It  is  easy  to  suspect  that  the  real  motive  of  this  petition  was 
not  so  much  a  loving  regard  for  the  Rev.  Hugh  Adams  as  it  was 
the  desire  to  have  regular  preachingat  the  Point,  to  be  independent 
of  the  Falls,  and  to  have  their  own  sweet  way  in  matters  ecclesi- 
astical. 

Mr.  Adams  was  not  one  of  those  "safe"  men  who  walk  in  "the 
middle  path  between  right  and  wrong."  He  followed  his  con- 
victions and  was  sometimes  mistaken.  The  Ecclesiastical 
Council  that  dismissed  him  censured  him  for  "his  great  pre- 
sumption in  pretending  to  imprecate  the  divine  vengeance 
and  that  the  calamities  that  had  befallen  sundry  persons  were  the 
effect  of  his  prayers."  They  concluded  that  "it  would  not  be 
for  the  honor  of  Christ  or  the  interest  of  religion  nor  any  way 


s 

< 


HISTORY   OF   DURHAM  1 89 

answer  to  the  great  ends  of  his  ministry  in  this  place  for  him  to 
continue  any  longer  in  it."  He  was  now  sixty-three  years  of 
age,  and  doubtless  oppositions  had  made  him  nervous  and  a 
little  more  unbalanced  than  usual.  Perhaps  he  needed  sympathy 
and  cooperation;  instead,  after  twenty-three  years  of  faithful 
service,  he  was  censured  for  his  eccentricities  and  dismissed  to 
poverty  in  his  old  age.  This  must  have  greatly  rejoiced  the  heart 
of  Col.  James  Davis  and  other  opponents. 

It  has  been  several  times  published  that  the  Rev.  Hugh  Adams 
died  in  1750,  but  the  following  town  record  places  his  death  two 
years  earlier.     He  was  living  22  July  1748: 

At  a  town  meeting  held  the  12  day  of  December  1748  at  the  meeting  house 
at  Durham  Falls  .  .  .  Voted  that  a  Committee  shall  be  chosen  to  agree 
with  Mdam  Adams  &  to  fully  settle  all  affairs  &  Demands  with  s<*  Mdam 
Adams  widow  concerning  her  Demands  on  the  Town  for  Mr  Adamses  sallary. 
Then  voted  Leut  Robt  Burnum,  Mr  Daniel  Rogers  &  John  Woodman  be 
accomtee  for  that  service  to  agree  &  settle  the  affair. — Teste  John  Woodman 
Cler.  P  temp. 

July  9  1750.  Voted  that  the  funeral  Charges  of  the  Revd  Mr.  Hugh 
Adams  shall  not  be  paid.  Leut  Stephen  Jones,  John  Woodman  &  Daniel 
Rogers  chosen  accomte  to  agree  with  Susannah  Adams  or  her  son  Samuel 
Adams  concerning  the  arrearages  of  Revernd  Hugh  Adams  Deceased.  [Town 
Records,  Vol.  I,  pp.  25,  31.] 

The  committee  reported  28  May  1751 ,  that  the  town  should 
pay  £262,  old  tenor,  to  Susannah  Adams,  administratrix. 
Whether  the  town  ever  paid  this  amount  does  not  appear. 

Since  the  above  was  put  in  type  additional  information  has 
been  obtained  concerning  the  Rev.  Hugh  Adams.  In  1725  he 
wrote,  "A  Narrative  of  a  Particular  Faith  and  Answers  to 
Prayer,"  and  offered  it  to  the  authorities  of  New  Hampshire  for 
publication.  In  it  he  reviews  the  main  events  of  his  life,  in 
which  he  sees  the  gracious  providence  of  God  and  claims  that 
God  has  done  wonderful  things  for  him  in  answer  to  prayer. 
We  learn  that  he  had  an  extensive  practice  as  a  physician  in 
South  Carolina,  Massachusetts  and  Oyster  River  during  twenty- 
three  years,  and  that  by  this  profession,  as  much  as  from  his 
salary  as  a  minister,  he  was  enabled  to  support  his  family.  He 
speaks  of  "my  former  Travels  into  several  Countreys  of  Europe 
and  Africa,  as  well  as  of  the  Continent  and  Islands  of  America, 
my  instruction  from  Sundry  able  Physicians  &  Chirurgions,  my 


190  HISTORY    OF   DURHAM 

hard  studies  in  the  best  Books,  and  my  so  long  Practice  and 
Experience"  as  the  sources  of  his  medical  skill,  declaring  that  he 
was  then  toward  the  end  of  his  forty-ninth  year  of  age.  Inci- 
dentally he  says  that  he  arrived  in  South  Carolina  in  July  or  August 
1698  and  was  sick  several  months  in  getting  himself  seasoned  to 
the  country  and  climate.  The  following  spring,  1699,  he  was 
"called  to  settle  at  a  large  parish  on  both  sides  of  Wandoe  River, 
where  I  preached  two  years  having  a  Meeting  House  on  each 
side  thereof  builded  on  purpose  for  me.  One  about  13  miles 
from  Charles  Town  N.  N.  E.  The  other  about  7  miles  distant 
about  half  a  mile  above  the  head  of  that  river."  The  people 
paid  him  about  half  his  salary,  which  occasioned  his  getting  in 
debt  sixty  pounds  "for  the  maintenance  of  four  of  my  young 
brethren  and  sisters  being  orphans  and  left  to  my  Brotherly 
care."  This  led  to  "my  first  Remove  soon  after  my  Marriage 
in  the  year  of  our  Lord  1701."  He  then  preached  for  a  while 
in  Ashley  River  parish,  and  thence  he  removed  to  South  Edisto 
River  parish,  fifty  miles  from  Charleston.  "My  second  son  was 
born  there."  He  returned  to  New  England  in  1706,  leaving 
wife  and  boy  ten  months  old.  He  preached  his  first  sermon  in 
Braintree  27  October  1706. 

This  quasi  autobiography  relates  many  interesting  things  about 
the  people  of  Oyster  River.  At  the  time  of  the  Indian  War, 
1724,  he  procured  two  horns  made  of  the  horns  of  cattle  and 
employed  his  "two  younger  sons  in  sounding  of  them  when  my 
eldest  son  was  gone  forth  a  volunteer  into  our  wilderness  against 
our  said  Indian  enemies,  wherein  he  so  prospered."  This  was 
done  because  of  some  fanciful  interpretation  of  an  odd  passage 
in  the  Old  Testament.  He  says  that  in  consequence  "not  one 
of  my  family  hath  been  killed,  wounded,  or  captivated." 

He  tells  of  many  remarkable  cures  that  had  been  effected  in 
his  different  parishes  by  his  medical  skill  and  in  answer  to  prayer, 
naming  the  following  at  Oyster  River,  Abednego  Leathers,  Mary 
wife  of  Joseph  Davis,  Mary  wife  of  Benjamin  Glitten  at  the 
house  of  Richard  Hilton  seven  miles  away  in  Exeter,  whither  he 
had  been  summoned  at  midnight,  and  where  a  son  was  born  and 
immediately  baptized  Benjamin,  William  Randall,  John  Buss, 
Jr.,  Joseph  Mason,  wife  of  John  Pearl  of  Dover,  Mary  wife  of 
Lieut.  Jonathan  Chesley,  Moses  Furber  of  Newington  "at  the 


HISTORY   OF    DURHAM  I9I 

house  of  my  near  neighbor  Captain  Hill,"  30  June  1724,  Lieut. 
Iehabod  Chesley,  widow  Elizabeth  Smith,  James  Bunker  cured 
of  rheumatism  and  pestilential  fever  whereof  his  father  died  a 
little  before.  "His  foolish  Quaker  aunt  had  given  him  stone 
horse  dung  in  wine."  This  was  in  the  summer  of  1724.  Others 
cured  were  "my  neighbor  Jonathan  Thompson's  son,  October 
6,  7,  8,  1724,"  Hannah  wife  of  Philip  Chesley  "Lieutenant  of 
the  Troop  of  horse,"  February  1723,  William  Dam's  wife> 
Theodore  Atkinson,  Esq.,  of  Newcastle,  Edward  Evans  of  Dover,, 
and  John  Dennet  of  Kittery,  showing  that  he  had  a  wide  medical 
practice.  He  does  not  give  the  names  of  those  who  died  under 
his  treatment. 

He  declares  that  from  childhood  he  was  afflicted  with  many 
diseases  and  suffered  from  almost  all  the  ills  that  flesh  is  heir  to,, 
including  melancholia,  and  that  his  "particular  faith"  in  con- 
nection with  acquired  medical  skill  had  saved  him  out  of  all  his 
distresses.  It  is  easy  to  see  that  his  mind  was  unbalanced  at 
times  in  consequence  of  physical  infirmities,  and  thus  his  impa- 
tience and  eccentricities  are  accounted  for.* 

The  parish  soon  found  a  successor  and,  14  September  1739, 
voted  that  Nicholas  Gilman  be  the  settled  minister.  He  was 
born  in  Exeter,  18  January  1707/8,  son  of  Judge  Nicholas  Gil- 
man.  He  was  graduated  at  Harvard  in  1724  and  was  installed 
at  Durham  3  March  1742.  Lieut.  Jonathan  Thompson,  Joseph 
Wheeler  and  Benjamin  Smith  were  the  committee  that  secured 
him.  Mr.  Gilman's  health  was  poor  and  for  three  years  he  was 
assisted  by  the  Rev.  Joseph  Prince  of  Barrington,  who  was 
blind  from  his  fourteenth  year  of  age.  He  preached  again  at 
Durham  after  the  dismissal  of  the  Rev.  John  Adams,  in  1778. 
He  died  in  1791  at  advanced  age  and  was  buried  in  the  same 
church  at  Newburyport  in  which  are  the  remains  of  the  Rev. 
George  Whitefield. 

Mr.  Gilman  was  a  man  of  piety  and  much  beloved,  yet  he  was 
deluded  by  a  fanatic  named  Woodbury,  who  used  to  arouse 
him  by  night  and  lead  him  into  the  woods  and  swamps  to  pray 
till  morning.     Jacob's  wrestling  with  the  Angel  has  prompted 

*  Manuscript  in  library  of  the  Massachusetts  Historical  Society,  Boston. 


I92  HISTORY   OF    DURHAM 

many  to  do  likewise.  Some  extravagancies  and  disorders  arose 
in  the  church  at  Durham,  which  are  best  set  forth  in  the  diary 
of  the  Rev.  Samuel  Chandler: 

"Aug  20,  1746.  I  set  out  on  a  journey  to  Durham  to  a  fast  at  y*  desire 
of  the  church  there,  they  being  under  difficulty.  I  called  Mr.  Wise  [of  Ber 
wick]  by  the  way  We  got  to  Durham  about  10  o'clock,  cloudy  rainy  weather 
&  the  people  not  much  expecting  any  minister  would  come  had  got  into  the 
meeting  house  and  were  praying.  Mr.  Prince,  a  blind  young  man  supplies 
them  during  their  Pastor's  silence  &  neglect  to  discharge  his  pastoral  office. 
When  we  went  into  the  pulpit  Mr.  Gilman  went  out  &  went  into  the  pew. 
I  began  with  prayer.  I  was  under  some  restraint.  Mr.  Wise  preached  from 
John  15.  5,  &  concluded  with  prayer.  In  the  exercise  were  a  number,  4  or  5, 
that  were  extraordinarily  agitated.  They  made  all  manner  of  mouths,  turn- 
ing out  their  lips,  drawing  their  mouths  awry,  as  if  convulsed,  straining  their 
eye  balls,  &  twisting  their  bodies  in  all  manner  of  unseemly  postures.  Some 
were  falling  down,  others  were  jumping  up,  catching  hold  of  one  another,  ex- 
tending their  arms,  clapping  their  hands,  groaning,  talking.  Some  were  ap- 
proving what  was  spoken,  &  saying  aye,  so  it  is,  that  is  true,  'tis  just  so,  &c. 
Some  were  exclaiming  &  crying  out  aloud,  glory,  glory.  It  drowned  Mr.  Wise's 
voice.  He  spoke  to  them,  entreated  them,  condemned  the  practice,  but  all 
to  no  purpose.  Just  after  the  blessing  was  pronounced,  Mr.  Gilman  stood  up 
to  oppose  some  things  that  had  been  said.  He  read  1  John  1.  8  &  9th  verse, 
&  began  some  exposition  on  the  9th  verse  what  God  hath  cleansed  let  no  man 
call  unclean  &  went  on  to  prove  perfection  as  attainable  in  this  life.  Then 
Mr.  Wise  rose  up  and  there  was  some  argumentation  between  them.  Mr. 
Gilman  took  some  particular  text  &  turned  it  contrary  to  the  general  current 
of  scripture.  Then  we  went  into  the  house  &  were  entertained.  Mr.  Gilman 
came  in  &  after  him  a  number  of  those  high  flyers,  raving  like  mad  men,  re- 
proaching, reflecting.  One  Hannah  Huckins  in  a  boasting  air  said  she  had 
gone  through  adoption,  justification  &  sanctification  &  perfection  &  perse- 
verance. She  said  she  had  attained  perfection  &  yet  had  a  bad  memory:  I 
reasoned  the  point  with  her,  but  presently  she  broke  out  into  exclamations 
'Blessed  be  the  Lord,  who  hath  redeemed  me,  Glory,  glory,  glory,  &c.  fell  to 
dancing  round  the  room,  singing  some  dancing  tunes,  jiggs,  minuets,  &  kept 
the  time  exactly  with  her  feet.  Presently  two  or  three  more  fell  in  with  her  & 
the  room  was  filled  with  applauders,  people  of  the  same  stamp,  crying  out  in 
effect  Great  is  Diana  of  the  Ephesians.  One  of  these  danced  up  to  Mr.  Gil- 
man &  said,  Dear  man  of  God,  do  you  approve  of  these  things?  Yes,  said  he, 
I  do  approve  of  them.  Then  they  began  to  increase  &  the  house  was  full  of 
confusion,  some  singing  bawdy  songs,  others  dancing  to  them  &  all  under  a 
pretence  of  religion.  It  is  all  to  praise  God  in  the  dance  &  the  tabret.  One 
woman  said  it  was  revealed  to  her  that  the  minister  that  was  to  come  to  the 
Fast  was  one  that  did  not  know  Joseph,  &  that  Joseph  was  Mr.  Gilman.  These 
mad  people  prophesied  that  there  would  be  great  trials  at  the  falls,  that  is  at 
the  meeting  house  that  day.     .     .     .     Mr.  Gilman  justified  their  proceedings. 


HISTORY   OF   DURHAM  I93 

They  do  it  out  of  a  good  design,  he  says,  and  that  there  is  no  sanctity  in  tunes, 
and  that  the  reason  we  cannot  approve  of  it  is  because  there  is  no  light  in  us 
&c.  &c.  ...  A  little  after  dark  all  left  the  house  &  went  out  into  the 
streets  when  they  held  it  till  near  ten  o'clock.  These  are  but  some  general 
hints.     O  awful  melancholy  scene,  O  tempora,  O  mores. 

Aug.  21.  I  preached  from  Gal.  2.  20.  The  people  appeared  very  devout, 
excepting  those  that  were  of  Mr.  Gilman's  party.  They  as  yesterday  made 
wry  mouths  &  extraordinary  gestures  of  body,  often  crying  out  aloud,  but 
generally  approving.  I  desired  &  entreated,  if  they  loved  the  souls  of  sin- 
ners, that  they  would  suffer  them  to  hear  what  I  had  to  offer  to  them,  but  all 
to  no  purpose.  At  length  the  authority  took  hold  of  one  &  the  rest  all  jumpt 
up  &  out  they  went,  crying  out  &  railing  &  made  a  hideous  noise  abroad,  but 
we  finished  &  went  into  the  house. 

Mr.  Gilman  says  he  has  a  witness  within  him  that  I  neither  preached  nor 
prayed  with  the  Spirit.  I  told  him  I  had  a  witness  within  myself  that  I  did 
both.  He  said  how  can  that  be  when  you  have  your  thumb  papers,  &  you 
could  hardly  read  them?  He  seemed  to  speak  by  way  of  reflection  &  an  air 
of  disdain.  Mr.  Gilman  says  he  can't  receive  those  that  don't  receive  Wood- 
bury &  all  those  persons  in  all  their  extravagancies.  He  allows  that  a  regen- 
erate man  may  have  a  strong  persuasion &confidence  in  lesser  &  yet  be  deceived. 
Mr.  Gilman  tarried  but  a  little  while  &  wenl  away  &  soon  after  him  all  the  rest. 
One  Mr.  Woodman  told  me  that  two  of  these  people  got  together  by  the  ears 
last  night.  They  struck  one  another  with  their  fists,  saying  you  are  a  devil 
&  you  are  a  devil.  The  persons  afflicted  are  John  &  James  Huckins  &  their 
wives,  Ralph  Hall  &  wife,  Capt.  Hardy,  Scales,  &c. 

Such  abnormal  manifestations  of  religious  enthusiasm  were 
once  very  common  and  still  are  known  among  uneducated  pop- 
ulations. They  are  best  explained  by  erroneous  teaching  ac- 
companied by  hypnotic  suggestion.  Most  people,  whether 
awake  or  asleep,  do  and  say  as  they  are  taught  by  a  few  leaders, 
wise  or  otherwise. 

The  Convocation  of  Ministers  of  New  Hampshire,  in  1747, 
appointed  a  committee  to  look  into  the  troubles  of  the  church  at 
Durham,  who  reported  that  they  found  the  affairs  of  the  church 
in  a  very  unhappy  situation: 

That  their  Rev1  Pastor  Mr.  Gilman  had  for  a  considerable  time  desisted 
from  the  work  of  the  Ministry  among  them,  &  by  all  their  Endeavours  they 
could  not  prevail  with  him  to  reingage  in  sd  Work;  but  that  they  had  had  for 
the  most  part  preaching  on  Lord's  Days,  &  that  Mr.  Woostcr  still  continued  to 
preach  to  them.  They  also  informed  us  that  a  considerable  Number  of  their 
Communicants  &  others  of  their  Congregation  had  separated  from  them  & 
held  a  separate  meeting  in  a  private  House  in  the  Town  on  the  Lords  Days  & 
at  other  Times.     And  the  s^  Committee  was  further  informed  by  divers  of  s<» 

13 


194  HISTORY    OF    DURHAM 

Church  that  at  sd  separate  Meeting  there  were  very  disorderly  vile  &  absurd 
things  practiced  (such  as  profane  singing  and  dancing,  damning  the  Devil 
-spitting  in  Persons  Faces  whom  they  apprehended  not  to  be  of  their  Society 
&c)  greatly  to  the  Dishonor  of  God  &  Scandal  of  Religion. 

(Signed)  Jon»Cushing 

John  Moody. 

It  may  be  that  the  spitting  in  the  faces  of  some  persons  was 
not  intended  as  an  insult,  but  to  drive  out  evil  spirits,  since  the 
same  thing  is  now  practised  in  some  countries  at  the  baptism  of 
infants.  I  have  often  seen  it  in  the  Baptistery  at  Florence, 
Italy.  The  "profane  singing  and  dancing"  might  have  been 
nothing  more  than  has  been  practised  by  Shakers,  like  the  old 
Israelites  praising  the  Lord  with  the  tabret  and  with  the  dance. 
Many  forms  of  worship  seem  absurd  and  vulgar  till  we  get  used 
to  them,  and  then  they  are  too  good  and  sacred  to  be  disturbed. 

The  Rev.  Joseph  Roberts  preached  for  a  short  time  after  Mr. 
Gilman  ceased  to  officiate.  The  latter  died  of  consumption,  13 
April  1748.  Sickness  probably  had  much  to  do  with  his  mental 
disorders.  "He  was  buried  at  Exeter,  whither  he  was  carried 
in  procession  by  the  young  men  of  the  town.  He  was  greatly 
beloved  for  the  excellencies  of  his  character  and  disposition." 
His  seems  to  have  been  a  case  of  religious  hallucination,  caused 
by  feeble  health,  overstrain  of  nerves,  and  the  friendly  influence 
of  an  unwise  adviser.  No  records  have  been  preserved  of  the 
results  of  his  ministry,  and  we  know  nothing  about  baptisms, 
marriages  and  deaths  during  his  term  of  office.  In  those  days 
such  records  were  the  minister's  private  property,  which  usually 
he  took  away  with  him. 

Mr.  Gilman  married,  22  October  1730,  Mary,  daughter  of 
Bartholomew  Thing  of  Exeter,  who  died  22  February,  1789. 
They  had  children :  Bartholomew,  born  26  August  1731 ;  Nicholas, 
born  13  June  1733;  Tristram,  born  24  November  1735,  who 
was  graduated  at  Harvard  and  became  minister  of  the  church  at 
North  Yarmouth,  Me.;  Joseph,  born  5  May  1738,  who  became 
a  judge  in  Ohio  and  died  14  May  1806,  and  Josiah,  born  2  Septem- 
ber 1740,  who  died  8  February  1801.  The  inventory  of  Mr. 
Gilman's  estate  shows  that  he  had  a  good  library,  considerable 


HISTORY    OF    DURHAM  1 95 

real  estate  in  Exeter,  valuable  furniture  and  one  Negro  slave, 
besides  three  gold  rings  and  a  pair  of  gold  buttons,  etc. 

It  was  during  the  pastorate  of  Mr.  Gilman  that  the  parish  of 
Madbury  was  formed  of  people  living  in  Dover  and  Durham. 
The  petition  for  the  same  was  addressed  to  the  Governor,  Coun- 
cil and  House  of  Representatives,  convened  the  ioth  day  of 
May  1743,  and  was  as  follows: 

The  Petition  of  Sundry  Persons  Inhabitants  of  the  Westerly  part  of  the  Town 
of  Dover  &  the  Northerly  part  of  Durham  in  said  Province  Humbly  Shews 
That  your  Petitioners  live  at  such  a  distance  from  the  meeting  houses  in  their 
Respective  Towns  as  makes  it  difficult  for  them  &  their  Families  to  attend 
the  Public  Worship  there  especially  in  the  Winter  &  spring  seasons  of  the  year 
which  indue'd  a  number  of  your  Petitioners  some  years  since  at  their  own  cost 
to  Build  a  meeting  house  situated  more  conveniently  for  them  where  they  have 
some  times  had  preaching  in  those  seasons  of  the  year  at  their  own  expense, 
tho  they  were  not  Exempted  from  paying  their  Proportion  at  the  same  time 
to  the  standing  Minister  of  the  Town. 

That  the  Towns  aforesaid  are  well  able  as  your  Petitioners  apprehend  to  bear 
their  annual  charges  without  the  assistance  of  ye  Petitioners  and  that  they 
might  be  Incorporated  into  a  new  Parish  whereby  they  might  be  accommodated 
their  children  &  servants  (as  well  as  themselves)  have  more  Frequent  oppor- 
tunity of  attending  Publick  Worship  and  all  of  them  Reep  the  advantages  of 
such  an  Incorporation  which  considering  their  present  circumstances  they  think 
would  not  be  a  few,  and  the  Towns  not  Injured. 

That  your  Petitioners  conceive  a  parish  might  be  erected  with  out  prejudice 
to  the  other  parts  of  the  Town  of  Dover  by  the  Following  Boundaries  viz., 
Beginning  at  the  Bridge  over  Johnsons  Creek  so  called,  where  the  dividing 
Line  between  Dover  and  Durham  Cross  the  Country  Road  &  from  thence 
running  as  the  said  Road  runs  until  it  comes  even  with  Joseph  Jenkins  his 
house  &  from  thence  to  run  on  a  North  West  &  by  North  course  until  it  comes 
to  the  head  of  said  Township  which  boundaries  would  comprehend  the  estates 
and  habitations  of  ye  Petitioners  living  in  Dover  &  the  making  of  a  parish 
there  will  greatly  contribute  to  the  settling  the  lands  within  said  Boundaries 
&  those  that  Lay  contiguous  as  well  as  be  very  convenient  for  y»  Petitioners. 
Wherefore  they  most  humbly  pray  that  a  parish  may  be  erected  &  Incorporated 
by  the  Boundaries  aforesaid  with  the  usual  powers  &  Priviledges  &  that  such 
of  y«  Petitioners  as  live  within  the  Town  of  Durham  may  have  liberty  to  Poll 
off  into  the  same,  or  that  such  a  part  of  the  said  Township  may  be  annexed 
thereunto  which  would  be  the  better  way  as  will  accommodate  the  Remote 
settlers  in  said  Township  near  the  said  Boundaries  as  well  as  your  petitioners 


196 


HISTORY   OF    DURHAM 


or  that  they  may  be  Relieved  in  such  other  way  &  method  as  this  Hon«>> 
Court  shall  see  fit,  &  yor  petitioners  as  in  duty  bound  shall  ever  pray  &c. 


'^ 


^*-U~  [WUjdJ  W/'^C'/ft 


Thomas  Wille 
John  Roberts 
Samuel  Davis 
Samuel  Chesley 
Thomas  Bickford 
Daniel  McHame 
James  Huckins 
Ralph  Hall 
William  Bussell 
Azariah  Boody 
Timothy  Moses 

John  Demeret 

Zachariah  Edgerly 
Francis  Drew 
Daniel  Young 
William  Twombly 
Isaac  Twombly 
Joseph  Evans  Jr. 
John  Evens 
Henry  Bickford 
Henary  Bussell 
Joseph  Hicks 
John  Tasker 
Derry  Pitman 
Paul  Gerrish  Jr. 
John  Bussell 
Job  Demeret 
David  Daniel 
James  Chesle 
Reuben  Chesle 
Henerv  Tibbetes 
[N.  H 


John  Huckins 
James  Jackson 
Zachariah  Pitman 
Ely  Demerit 
John  Foay  Jr. 
Solomon  Emerson 
Jacob  Daniel 
Joseph  Rines 
Benjamin  Hall 
William  Demeret 
William  Allen 

his 
Nathiel  O  Davis 

mark 
Joseph  Daniel 
Samuel  Davis  Jr. 
Jonathan  Hanson 
Robert  Evens 
Jonathan  Daniel 
William  Hill 
Stephen  Pinkham 
Benjamin  Wille 
John  Rowe 
Hercules  Mooney 
Joseph  Twombly 
Abraham  Clark 
Joseph  Jackson 
James  Clemens 
William  Dam  Jr. 
Morres  Fowler 
Robert  Wille 
Abel  Leathers 


Province  Papers,  Vol.  V.] 


Nothing  resulted  from  this  petition  and  another  petition  was 
presented  17  January  1754,  and  Madbury  was  incorporated  as 
a  parish  31  May  1755,  and  impowered  to  raise  money  for  the 
separate  support  of  preaching,  schools  and  paupers,  but  remained 
as  before  with  respect  to  province  taxes,  highways,  etc.  This 
parish  was  vested  with  full  town  privileges  20  May  1768.     The 


HISTORY    OF    DURHAM 


197 


second  petition  was  signed  by  the  following,  here  arranged  alpha- 
betically : 


Azariah  Boodey, 
Charles  Bickford, 
Henry  Bickford, 
Thomas  Bickford, 
Ebenezer  Buzzell, 
Jacob  Buzzell, 
John  Buzzell, 
John  Buzzell  Jr., 
Joseph  Buzzell, 
Henry  Buzzell, 
William  Buzzell, 
William  Brown, 
Samuel  Chesley, 
James  Clemons  Jr., 
James  Crown, 
James  Davis, 
Samuel  Davis, 
Joseph  Daniels, 
Eli  Demeret, 
Ebenezer  Demeret, 
John  Demeret, 
John  Demret  Jr., 
Job  Demeret, 
William  Demeret, 
Zachariah  Edgerley, 
Lieut,  Emerson, 
John  Evens, 
William  Fowler, 
Paul  Gerrish, 
William  Gliden, 
Thomas  Glovier, 

The  next  settled  minister  was  the  Rev.  John  Adams,  son  of 
Matthew  Adams  of  Boston  and  nephew  of  the  Rev.  Hugh 
Adams.  He  was  born  19  June  1725  and  was  graduated  at 
Harvard  College  in  1745.  The  two  factions  in  the  church  that 
existed  in  the  time  of  his  uncle's  pastorate  were  still  quarreling, 
and  old  Mr.  Adams'  party,  "who  had  for  a  long  time  been 
separated  and  were  a  distinct  body  by  themselves,"  were  thought 
by  the  other  party  to  have  been  too  influential  in  the  choice  of 
the  new  minister.  Gradually  the  opposition  subsided  with  the 
lapse  of  time  and  the  departure  of  some  from  the  church  militant. 
The  articles  of  agreement  with  the  Rev.  John  Adams  contain 
some  interesting  touches  of  history : 


Reuben  Gray, 
Capt.  Hicks, 
James  Huckins, 
John  Huckins, 
Robert  Huckins, 
William  Huckins, 
James  Jackson, 
James  Jackson  Jr., 
Joseph  Jackson, 
Antony  Jones, 
Benjamin  Leathers, 
Joseph  Libbey, 
Timothy  Moses, 
Timothy  Perkins, 
Zachariah  Pitman, 
John  Roberts, 
Joseph  Ryans, 
John  Smith, 
Ebenezer  Tasker, 
John  Tasker  Jr. 
Ens.  John  Tasker, 
William  Tasker, 
Nathaniel  Tibbetts, 
-  Isaac  Twombly,        5  *■ 
Joseph  Twombly, 
William  Twombly  Jr., 
Benjamin  Willey, 
John  Winget,  Jr., 
Daniel  Young, 
Noah  Young. 


- 


I98  HISTORY   OF   DURHAM 

Articles  of  Agreement  made  and  Concluded  upon  the  third  day  of  October 
ano  que  Domeney  1748  and  in  the  twenty  Second  year  of  his  maiesties  Reign 
Between  John  Adams  now  Residing  in  Durham  in  the  provence  of  newhamp- 
shire  Clerk  of  the  one  Part  &  Philip  Chesle  David  Davis  Stephen  Jones  Jun 
Benj»  Smith  Job  Runals  Nath  Rendal  Joseph  Wheler  Jos  Glidden  Sam'  Wille 
Daniel  Rogers  Benj*  Mathes  &  Joseph  Sias  all  of  Durham  afore  said  as  a  Com- 
mittee of  the  said  town  lawfully  chosen  &  appointed  to  contract  &  agree  with 
the  said  John  Adams  for  his  sallerey  as  the  Gospel  minister  of  the  sd  town  of 
the  other  part  as  follows  that  is  to  say  where  as  the  said  town  have  lately 
invited  &  caled  the  said  John  Adams  to  settel  among  them  the  inhabitants  of  s<i 
town  in  the  office  &  capasaty  of  a  Gospel  minister  to  them  which  call  the  said 
John  Adams  has  been  Pleased  to  accept  &  we  being  chosen  for  ye  purpose  afore 
said  Have  bargained  &  agreed  and  by  the  Presents  Do  Covenant  Bargain  & 
agree  to  &  with  the  said  John  Adams  to  pay  him  and  the  s^  town  shall  hereby 
be  obliged  to  pay  the  sd  John  Adams  the  yearly  salary  of  five  hundred  pounds 
old  tenor  bills  of  Public  Credit  during  the  time  that  he  shall  continue  in  the 
gospel  ministry  in  the  sd  town  the  sd  yearly  salary  to  commence  the  twenty 
fifth  day  of  March  next  and  for  the  Preventing  of  iniustice  &  dispute  between 
the  sd  town  &  the  said  John  Adams  by  the  alteration  &  change  of  the  Value 
of  the  said  bills  it  is  further  agreed  by  the  sd  parties  to  these  Presents  that  the 
sd  bills  shall  be  fixed  according  to  the  following  Rules  of  Computation  with 
Respect  to  the  said  sum  that  is  to  say  comparing  the  same  with  Indian  Corn 
at  thirty  shillings  old  tennor  a  bushel  Pork  at  three  shillings  old  tenor  a  pound 
&  beaf  at  one  shilling  and  six  pence  old  tennor  a  pound  and  in  case  the  sd 
specis  of  Provision  shall  be  dearer  &  the  Price  thereof  Rise  then  the  said  yearly 
salary  shall  be  increased  &  such  a  farther  sum  added  thereunto  as  shall  be  equil- 
ent  &  Propartionable  t3  the  Rising  &  Increas  of  the  Price  of  such  Provision 
above  the  Respective  Prices  herein  before  mentioned  and  in  case  the  prices 
of  the  said  Kinds  of  Provision  shall  fall  &  be  lower  than  the  Respective  sums 
aforesd  than  the  sd  yearly  sallery  shall  be  abated  &  such  a  sum  deducted  from 
the  same  as  shall  be  Equelant  &  Proportionable  to  such  fall  &  lowering  of  the 
sd  Prices  and  in  case  one  of  said  Kinds  of  Provision  only  shall  alter  in  the  price 
either  derer  of  cheper  then  one  third  of  the  sd  sum  of  five  hundred  pounds 
shall  folow  the  sd  price  or  the  Rule  of  that  Kind  of  Provision  &  be  either  in- 
creased or  deminished  in  Proportion  as  aforesaid  &  the  other  Remaining  the 
same  then  two  thirds  of  the  sd  five  hundred  Pounds  shall  folow  the  said  altera- 
tion in  manner  aforesaid — - 

And  it  is  hereby  farther  covenanted  &  agreed  between  the  sd  Parties  to 
these  Presents  that  ye  said  John  Adams  shall  have  hold  &  enioy  the  Parson- 
age house  which  the  late  Reverant  Nicolas  Gilman  occupied  &  improved  in 
said  Durham  and  the  ten  acres  of  Parsonage  land  lying  near  to  sd  house  which 
he  improved  also  being  part  of  the  Parsonage  lands  belonging  to  sd  town  dur- 
ing the  time  of  his  ministry  as  afore  said  &  the  said  John  Adams  doth  hereby 
covenant  and  agree  to  and  with  the  sd  Commite  that  he  will  accept  the  afore 
said  sum  of  five  hundred  Pounds  to  be  paid  in  manner  afore  said  with  the 
mprovement  of  the  said  house  and  land  as  afore  said  in  full  of  all  demands 
and  claims  for  salary  from  the  said  town  for  his  service  in  the  capasaty  afore 
sd  and  that  he  will  Keep  the  sd  house  in  good  tenentable  Repair  at  his  own 


HISTORY   OF   DURHAM  1 99 

own  proper  cost  &  charge.  In  testemoney  whereof  the  said  Parties  to  these 
Presents  have  hereunto  interchangably  set  their  hands  and  seals  the  day  and 
year  first  above  written. 

Then  follow  the  signatures  of  the  persons  above  named.  The 
acceptance  of  his  call  is  also  spread  upon  the  town  records  as 
follows: 

Durham,  New  Hampshire,  October  third  1748. 
Whereas  it  has  pleased  the  Soverign  Ruler  &  Dysposer  of  all  things  to 
incline  and  dispose  the  generalaty  of  the  People  of  this  place  to  attend  to  my 
Preaching  amongst  them  with  such  satisfaction  &  approbation  as  that  the 
freeholders  of  said  town  at  there  meeting  held  here  on  the  day  last  Past 
were  very  unanemus  in  giving  me  an  invitation  &  call  to  settel  among  them 
in  the  work  of  the  ministry  &  to  undertake  &  ingage  in  the  office  &  duty  of  the 
Gospell  ministry  of  the  said  town  and  after  due  Deliberation  upon  this  weighty 
affair  &  considering  the  great  unaninity  of  the  people  in  this  case  which  is  the 
more  Remarkable  because  of  former  Divisions  among  them  I  esteem  the  voice 
of  the  people  in  this  case  to  be  the  voice  of  God  and  ading  to  this  some  par- 
ticuler  call  from  God  &  secret  intimation  to  my  own  Breast  inclining  me  there- 
to I  accept  of  the  said  invitation  &  call  Promising  as  the  Lord  shall  anable  me 
faithfulley  to  the  utmost  of  my  ability  to  Discharge  the  Duties  of  that  defficult 
and  Important  affair  and  in  all  things  according  to  my  Power  to  behave  my 
self  as  becoms  a  minister  of  the  Gospele  of  Jesus  Christ  &  to  be  contented 
with  such  Satiesfaction  Salery  and  Reward  as  shall  be  agreed  between  the  Corn- 
tee  of  ye  town  and  my  self.  In  testemony  where  of  I  hereunto  subscribe  my 
name  as  in  the  Presents  &  in  the  favor  of  the  Lord  the  day  and  year  above 
writen — 

John   Adams. 

On  account  of  fluctuating  prices  the  salary  of  Mr.  Adams  was 
changed,  in  1774,  to  seventy-two  pounds  ten  shillings  of  lawful 
money,  half  to  be  paid  semiannually.  New  difficulties  arose 
and  he  was  dismissed  16  January  1778,  after  thirty  years  of  serv- 
ice. He  removed  to  Newfield,  Me.,  in  1781,  where  he  preached 
and  practised  medicine  till  his  death,  9  June  1792.  He  mar- 
ried (1)  13  October  1752,  Sarah  Wheeler  of  Durham,  (2)  Hannah 
Chesley  of  Durham,  and  had  fourteen  children.  About  a  cen- 
tury after  his  departure  from  Durham  a  copy  of  his  manuscript 
records  of  marriages  and  baptisms  during  the  years  1749-63  was 
obtained  by  Miss  Mary  P.  Thompson  from  one  of  his  descend- 
ants. There  are  one  hundred  and  twenty  marriages  and  three 
hundred  and  thirty-three  baptisms.  The  Rev.  John  Adams  was 
a  man  of  ability  in  mechanics  and  music  as  well  as  in  the  work 
of  the  ministry.  He  took  an  active  part  in  the  events  that  led  to 
the  Revolution  and  was  chairman  of  the  first  committee  in  Dur- 


200  HISTORY   OF   DURHAM 

ham  of  Correspondence,  Inspection  and  Safety.  It  is  said  of 
him  that  at  times  he  was  greatly  depressed  and  at  other  times  his 
genius  flashed  out  in  bursts  of  eloquence.  Toward  the  close 
of  his  pastorate  in  Durham  prejudices  were  excited  against  him 
"by  a  false  and  slanderous  attack  on  his  character  by  a  worth- 
less woman."  Thus  the  lie  of  a  disreputable  person  sometimes 
outweighs  the  truth  as  proclaimed  and  lived  throughout  thirty 
years,  and  those  who  believe  such  a  lie  are  about  as  guilty  as  the 
liar.  When  he  preached  his  farewell  sermon  in  Durham,  he 
requested  his  audience  to  sing,  after  his  reading,  a  metrical  ver- 
sion of  the  120th  Psalm,  which  certainly  ministered  to  mortifi- 
cation, if  not  to  edification. 

It  was  during  the  pastorate  of  the  Rev.  John  Adams  that  the 
parish  of  Lee  was  formed.  A  house  of  worship  must  have  been 
built  in  Lee  quite  early,  for  28  October  1765,  the  town  of  Dur- 
ham voted  thirty  pounds  lawful  money  to  "repair  the  meeting 
house  near  Little  River."  The  first  meeting  house  stood 
in  the  burial  ground  at  Paul  Giles'  corner.  The  Rev.  Samuel 
Hutchins  was  the  first  minister.  The  Rev.  John  Osborne 
preached  there  many  years,  though  the  Congregational  Church 
in  Lee  was  not  organized  till  3  December  1867. 

After  the  dismission  of  Mr.  Adams  the  church  was  in  a  weak 
condition.  The  members  were  few  and  scattered.  A  confes- 
sion of  faith  was  for  the  first  time  adopted  and  nine  males  and 
ten  females  subscribed  to  it,  after  the  installation  of  his  succes- 
sor. They  were  Curtis  Coe,  Abednego  Lethers,  John  Edgerly, 
Thomas  Bickford,  Benja  Smith,  Walter  Bryent,  Valentine 
Mathes,  Jeremiah  Burnham,  Joseph  Stevens,  Phebe  Mathes, 
Bethiah  Bickford,  Hannah  Mathes,  Margaret  Frost,  Sarah 
Edgerly,  Mary  Chesle,  Abigail  Burnham,  Hannah  Small,  Eliza- 
beth Bryent,  and  Abigail  Thomas.  There  may  have  been  a  few 
more  church  members  at  that  time,  but,  if  so,  they  did  not  sign 
the  new  covenant  and  creed. 

The  Rev.  Curtis  Coe  was  born  in  Middleton,  Conn.,  21  July 
1750.  He  was  graduated  at  Brown  University  in  1776.  He 
began  preaching  at  Durham  as  early  as  18  August  1779  and  was 
ordained  and  installed  there  I  November  1780.  It  was  agreed 
that  he  have  the  use  of  the  parsonage  house,  to  be  repaired,  and 
£75  in  money  annually,  to  be  computed  according  to  the  price 
of  certain  articles.     Mr.  Coe  resigned  his  pastorate  1  May  1806 


HISTORY   OF   DURHAM  201 

and  became  a  home  missionary  in  Milton,  N.  H.,  and  in  other 
towns.  He  married,  22  February  1781,  Ann,  daughter  of  Judge 
Ebenezer  Thompson.  The  dismissing  council  declared  that 
"Mr.  Coe's  character  is  unspotted"  and  that  they  esteemed  him 
"a  man  eminent  for  piety  and  a  faithful  minister  of  the  New 
Testament."  He  died  in  South  Newmarket  7  June  1829. 
Descendants  of  his  are  now  living  in  Durham. 

It  was  during  the  pastorate  of  Mr.  Coe,  in  1792,  that  a  new 
meeting  house  was  erected  on  the  site  of  the  former  one,  where 
now  is  the  Sullivan  monument.  The  plans  for  this  meeting 
house  were  drawn  by  Judge  Ebenezer  Thompson,  perhaps 
acting  as  agent  for  Noah  Jewett,  to  whom  the  town  records 
ascribe  the  plan.  The  meeting  house  was  sixty  feet  in  length, 
fifty  feet  in  width,  and  the  posts  were  twenty-nine  feet  high. 
It  had  a  portico  at  the  front  door  and  another  at  the  back  door, 
with  "good  handsome  hewn  stones  at  the  doors."  The  house 
had  broad  galleries  around  three  sides  and  a  lofty  pulpit  at  the 
east  end,  with  a  sounding  board  over  it  and  deacons'  pew  in 
front  of  it.  At  the  west  end  was  "a  steeple  with  a  spire  and  a 
weathercock  or  vane  thereon."  In  this  steeple  hung  a  bell, 
which  could  be  heard  at  the  mouth  of  Oyster  River.  "The 
plastered  arch  overhead"  was  "painted  a  sky  color  interspersed 
with  scattered  clouds."  The  contract  specified  that  the  meet- 
ing house  should  be  like  that  at  Amherst,  N.  H.,  built  also  by 
Edmund  Thompson.  The  old  meeting  house  was  sold  at  auc- 
tion to  Capt.  Joseph  Richardson  for  £40.  It  pioved  to  be  rotten 
and  so  the  town  released  him  from  paying  £20. 

At  vendue  at  the  house  of  Joseph  Richardson  the  building 
of  the  new  meeting  house  was  struck  off  to  William  Smith,  at 
£760.  April  13,  1792,  the  committee,  which  consisted  of  Valen- 
tine Mathes,  Ebenezer  Thompson,  Ebenezer  Smith,  Joseph 
Young,  Bradbury  Jewell,  Edmund  Pendergast,  Zebulon  Durgin, 
Jonathan  Woodman,  Jr.,  Noah  Jewett,  Edmund  Thompson  and 
John  Blydenburgh,  located  the  house  as  follows:  "The  sill  on 
the  fore  side  or  southern  side  shall  be  placed  and  leveled  as 
follows,  viz.,  the  west  end  to  be  placed  exactly  where  the  north- 
west corner  of  the  old  meeting  house  stood,  and  to  be  ex- 
tended easterly  exactly  over  the  same  ground  where  the  back 
side  of  the  old  meeting  house  was  placed,  and  to  be  carried  on 
the  same  line  until  the  sixty  feet  is  completed,  and  the  other  sills 


• 

1  / 

10}  JP 

!    v 

S^V^H^k 

1  ^Hj 

- 

Rev.  Curtis  Coe 


HISTORY   OF    DURHAM  203 

to  be  squared  accordingly."  The  house  had  an  "electric  wire," 
or  lightning-rod,  at  a  cost  of  £5,  18s. 

Pews  were  sold  at  prices  ranging  from  £19  to  £34.  The  fol- 
lowing persons  were  purchasers:  John  Blydenburgh,  Noah 
Jewett,  Ebenezer  Thompson,  Joseph  Chesley,  Samuel  Edgerly, 
Stephen  Cogan,  Ebenezer  Thompson,  Jr.,  Jeremiah  Mooney, 
George  Frost,  Jr.,  Zebulon  Durgin,  Joseph  Richardson,  James 
Leighton,  William  Ballard,  Eliphalet  Daniel,  Edmund  Thomp- 
son, Benjamin  Thompson,  George  Dame,  Samuel  Edgerly,  Jr., 
Jacob  Crommett,  Capt.  Jonathan  Woodman,  Samuel  Joy,  Joseph 
Wormwood,  Col.  Samuel  Adams,  Stephen  Evans,  Samuel 
Edgerly,  Thomas  Pinkham,  Lieut.  Benjamin  Chesley,  John 
Stevens,  Capt.  Joseph  Young,  William  Smith,  Ebenezer  Doe, 
Valentine  Mathes,  Esq.,  Valentine  Wormwood,  Benjamin 
Smith,  Reuben  Bickford,  Jonathan  Chesley,  Edward  Pender- 
gast,  Timothy  Meserve,  Bradbury  Jewell,  Curtis  Coe,  Joshua 
Davis,  John  Bennett,  Stephen  Durgin,  John  Smith,  3d,  and  Robert 
Lapish.  The  thirty-one  remaining  pews  were  struck  off  to 
William  Smith  at  £4  each. 

While  the  new  church  was  in  process  of  erection,  meetings  were 
held  in  Jonathan  Edgerly 's  Bark  House,  so  called,  which  stood 
near  his  tannery,  near  the  Falls.  Mr.  Edgerly  lived  where  Mr. 
David  H.  Fogg  now  lives,  on  the  north  side  of  the  road  to  the 
Point,  in  the  vicinity  of  the  Pound.  Town  meetings  were  held 
in  this  Bark  House  in  1796,  after  the  new  meeting  house  was 
completed.  Some  town  meetings  were  held  in  Joseph  Richard- 
son's tavern.  In  March  1798,  the  town  meeting  was  held  in 
the  school  house,  erected  the  year  before,  near  Widow  Griffin's. 

About  this  time  towns  were  ceasing  to  pay  taxes  for  the  sup- 
port of  ministers  and  poll  parishes  were  formed.  New  denomi- 
nations were  coming  in,  and  the  Baptist  Church  at  Madbury, 
of  which  the  Rev.  William  Hooper  was  minister,  attracted  some 
of  the  Rev.  Curtis  Coe's  parishioners,  who  for  some  reason  did 
not  take  kindly  to  his  preaching.  The  dissenters  seem  to  have 
been  led  by  Col.  Timothy  Emerson,  who  sued  the  town  for 
taxing  him  for  ministerial  support.  A  letter  from  the  Rev.  Wil- 
liam Hooper  is  recorded  in  the  town  records,  dated  31  December 
1802.  He  stated  that  the  following  persons  from  Durham  were 
regular  members  of  his  church  and  society  and  had  contributed 
that  year  to  his  support,  viz.,  Jonathan  Steele,  Andrew  Simpson, 


204  HISTORY   OF    DURHAM 

James  Durgin,  Jeremiah  Emerson,  John  Ffrost,  Jonathan  Ches- 
ley,  Jonathan  Chesley,Jr.,  John  Angiers,  Robert  Bickford,  Samuel 
Langley,  Samuel  C.  Drew,  John  Bickford,  Nathaniel  Demeritt, 
Andrew  Stevens,  Benjamin  Smith,  Israel  Demeritt,  Robert  Burn- 
ham,  Philip  Chesley,  Edward  Wells,  Joseph  Daniels,  Elijah  Gove, 
John  Winkley,  Robert  Leathers,  Jr.,  Thomas  Jones,  Andrew 
Emerson,  George  Grover,  John  Stevens,  John  Emerson,  Joshua 
Ballard,  William  Emerson,  Ephraim  Hanson,  Samuel  Stevens, 
Andrew  Bickford,  William  Bickford,  Anne  Stevens,  Elizabeth 
Stevens,  and  Love  Davis — thirty-six  in  all,  while  the  total  mem- 
bership of  the  church  at  Durham  Falls  was  not  more  than  half 
that  number.  This  indicated  either  decided  opposition  to  the 
Rev.  Curtis  Coe  or  to  the  system  by  which  they  were  taxed  to 
pay  him.  There  was  a  wide  call  for  a  complete  separation  of 
church  and  state.  Methodists,  Baptists,  Quakers  and  others 
were  building  denominational  churches.  The  above  persons  were 
temporary  Baptists  for  financial  as  well  as  ecclesiastical  reasons. 
March  28,  1805,  Jonathan  Steele  and  fifty  others  petitioned  for 
a  poll  parish  in  Durham.  In  1807  and  1808  nothing  was  voted 
by  the  town  for  the  support  of  the  ministry. 

After  the  dismissal  of  Mr.  Coe  the  church  was  without  a  pastor 
for  more  than  eleven  years,  declining  in  numbers  and  strength. 
The  Rev.  Samuel  Greeley  was  paid  $32,  for  preaching  four  Sab- 
baths in  1807,  and  widow  Margaret  Frost  was  paid  $16  for  board- 
ing him.  Probably  there  was  preaching  by  others  from  time  to 
time,  of  which  there  is  no  record.  There  were  no  additions  to 
the  church  from  30  October  1790  to  22  June  181 7,  nearly  eight- 
een years.  At  the  latter  date  there  were  only  seven  members 
of  the  church.  In  1814  the  Rev.  Federal  Burt  came  to  Durham 
as  agent  of  the  Massachusetts  Society  for  Promoting  Christian 
Knowledge.  From  that  time  until  his  ordination  he  preached 
here  at  intervals,  a  considerable  portion  of  that  period.  Thus  he 
became  interested  in  the  people  and  the  people  in  him.  With  the 
aid  of  the  aforenamed  society  and  also  of  the  New  Hampshire 
Missionary  Society,  together  with  the  strenuous  exertions  of  a 
few  persons  in  Durham,  provision  was  made  for  the  support  of  a 
minister,  and  18  June  1817  the  Rev.  Federal  Burt  was  installed 
as  the  fifth  pastor  of  the  church.  His  ministry  was  one  of  un- 
surpassed prosperity.  Old  prejudices  were  laid  aside,  and  gen- 
uine piety  was  promoted.     Soon  additions  were  made  to  the 


HISTORY   OF   DURHAM 


205 


church  and  continued  from  time  to  time.  The  largest  addition 
was  in  1826,  following  a  revival,  resulting  in  part  from  a 
meeting  of  the  General  Association.  Thirty-seven  new  mem- 
bers were  thus  gained,  not  all  stable  converts,  since  five  of 
them  were  afterwards  excommunicated.  This  revival  was 
greatly  aided  by  the  labors  of  the  Rev.  Henry  Smith,  son  of 
Ebenezer  Smith,  Esq.,  of  Durham,  a  graduate  of  Bowdoin  Col- 


Rev.  Federal  Burt 


lege  and  of  Andover  Theological  Seminary.  During  Mr.  Burt's 
ministry  the  membership  of  the  church  increased  from  seven  to 
about  seventy. 

The  Rev.  Federal  Burt  was  born  at  Southampton,  Mass., 
4  March  1789  and,  therefore,  named  Federal.  He  was  graduated 
at  Williams  College  in  18 12.  He  married  Mary  Pickering  of 
Newington  in  July  1819.  In  1827  he  suffered  the  amputation 
of  a  finger  and  then  of  an  arm.     His  health  being  impaired,  he 


206  HISTORY   OF   DURHAM 

was  appointed  editor  of  the  New  Hampshire  Observer,  and  he 
edited  that  paper  till  his  death,  9  February  1828.  He  is  des- 
cribed as  "a  man  of  large  stature,  of  generous,  magnanimous 
spirit,  of  ardent  temperament,  yet  of  sound  judgment.  Pos- 
sessing superior  conversational  powers,  much  ability  in  extem- 
poraneous speaking,  and  being  skilled  in  adapting  himself  to 
people  of  different  classes  and  conditions,  he  was  a  leader  among 
his  associates."  When  he  was  called  to  Durham  he  had  another 
invitation  to  Salisbury,  Conn.,  where  the  prospects  were  more 
flattering,  but  a  committee  of  ministerial  brethren  from  the  vicin- 
age expressed  their  "desire  to  have  the  assistance  of  another 
fellow  labourer  in  the  hard  &  barren  ground  of  the  part  of  the 
vineyard  in  which  our  Divine  Master  has  seen  fit  to  station  us," 
and  so  Mr.  Burt  accepted  the  call  to  Durham.  This  record  may 
convince  some  that  in  "the  good  old  times"  the  churches  were 
not  more  prosperous  than  at  present.  The  people  were  not 
more  religious,  nor  did  they  like  to  go  to  meeting  any  better  than 
now.  The  ministers  had  more  trials  and  it  was  harder  to  collect 
regularly  their  meager  salaries.  The  Revs.  John  Buss,  Hugh 
Adams,  John  Adams  and  Curtis  Coe,  all  had  great  trouble  in 
collecting  amounts  due  to  them  according  to  terms  of  contracts 
made. 

It  is  recorded  that  Mr.  Burt  was  accustomed  to  wear  in  the 
pulpit  the  clerical  gown  of  black  silk,  and  that  after  the  preach- 
ing service  the  audience  respectfully  arose  and  stood  while  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Burt  passed  down  the  broad  aisle.  Have  reverence 
and  respect  decreased  in  these  latter  days? 

It  was  during  the  pastorate  of  Mr.  Burt  that  the  first  Sunday 
School  was  formed  in  Durham.  At  a  meeting  held  at  the 
school  house,  Sunday  evening,  23  March,  1819,  James  Bartlett, 
Jedediah  Ingalls  and  Abraham  Perkins  were  chosen  directors 
of  the  proposed  school,  whose  duty  it  was  to  select  instructors  and 
have  the  government  and  management  of  the  school.  Joseph 
Hanson,  Benjamin  Mathes,  Jr.,  and  James  Joy  were  another 
committee  to  procure  clothing  for  the  destitute  and  funds  for 
the  school.  The  following  instructors  and  pupils  are  on  record. 
Valentine  Smith's  class  consisted  of  Hamilton  Smith,  Charles 
Parks,  John  Parks,  John  Odell,  Daniel  Holt  and  John  Hanson. 
Miss  Martha  Leighton  had  under  her  care  a  class  whose  names 
are  not  recorded,  and  the  same  is  true  of  Mr.  Joseph  Hanson. 


HISTORY    OF    DURHAM  207 

Miss  Abigail  Ballard  taught  the  following,  Mary  Jackson,  Mary 
Chesley,  Laura  Emerson,  Susan  Leighton,  Louisa  Doe,  Jane 
Chesley  and  Sarah  Chesley. 

The  class  of  Miss  Sarah  Richardson  consisted  of  Mary  Hull 
13,  Eliza  Meserve  11,  Rebecca  Pickering  11,  Betsey  Henderson 
9,  Charity  Willey  8,  Dorothy  Garland  7,  and  Adaline  Griffin  15. 

Miss  Margaret  Blydenburgh  had  for  pupils,  Martha  Board- 
man,  Harriet  Pickering,  Sarah  Garland,  Harriet  Libbey,  Mary 
Thompson,  Mehitable  Doe,  and  Elizabeth  Holt. 

Miss  Charlotte  Gregg  had  in  her  class  Eliza  Chesley  12, 
Eliza  Ingalls  9,  Clarissa  Coos  12,  Caroline  Tego  17,  Jane  Parks 
5,  Fanny  Hull  11,  Abigail  Emerson  and  Mehitable  Morse  7. 

Miss  Abigail  Joy  had  as  pupils  Mary  Davis,  Caroline  Follett, 
Lucy  A.  Hull,  Jane  Boardman,  Mary  Chesley,  Lydia  Yeaton, 
Elizabeth  Yeaton  7,  and  Mehitable  Bunker  7. 

The  successor  of  the  Rev.  Federal  Burt  was  the  Rev.  Robert 
Page,  who  was  born  25  April  1790,  graduated  at  Bowdoin  Col- 
lege in  1 8 10,  at  Andover  Seminary  in  18 15,  was  ordained  and 
settled  at  Bradford,  N.  H.,  in  1822  and  was  installed  at  Dur- 
ham 3  December  1826.  .  He  specified  in  accepting  the  call  that  his 
small  salary  should  be  paid  regularly.  This  was  not  done,  and 
so  he  resigned  his  pastorate  after  a  little  more  than  two  years. 
He  was  dismissed  by  Council  31  March  1831.  The  Council 
declared  him  to  be  "an  able  minister  of  Jesus  Christ,  highly 
esteemed  in  our  congregations  and  approved  and  beloved  by  his 
brethren  in  the  ministry."  He  afterwards  labored  with  success 
at  Hanover,  Hillsborough  and  Lempster  and  died  12  January 
1876. 

The  Rev.  Alvan  Tobey,  D.  D.,  succeeded  Mr.  Page.  He  was 
born  at  Wilmington,  Vt.,  1  April  1808,  graduated  at  Amherst 
College  in  1828  and  at  Andover  Seminary  in  1831.  He  began 
preaching  at  Durham  the  first  Sabbath  of  October  of  1831  and 
was  ordained  20  November  1833.  His  salary  was  $500,  of  which 
$100  were  paid  by  the  New  Hampshire  Missionary  Society. 
In  1854  the  salary  was  increased  to  $650  in  consequence  of  Mr. 
Tobey's  proposal  to  withdraw.  More  than  once  he  had  to 
stir  up  the  brethren  to  make  due  collections  for  his  salary,  yet  he 
remained  till  January  1871.  In  1867  subscriptions  were  ob- 
tained to  nearly  double  his  salary.  Before  that  he  declared 
that  he  received  only  half  enough  to  comfortably  support  his 


208 


HISTORY   OF    DURHAM 


family.  He  was  greatly  esteemed  and  the  church  prospered 
under  his  ministry  of  nearly  thirty-nine  years.  One  hundred 
and  forty-nine  members  were  added  to  the  church,  thirty-four 
of  them  in  the  year  1868.  Mr.  Tobey  removed  to  Somersworth, 
where  he  died  20  September  1874. 

It  was  during  his  pastorate,  in  1848-49,  that  the  old  meeting 


Rev.  Alvan  Tobey,  D.D. 


house  was  torn  down  and  the  new  church  was  erected,  which  con- 
tinues unto  the  present  day.  Mr.  Tobey  saw  the  need  of  this  and 
advocated  it  several  years  before  the  work  was  accomplished. 
Elder  John  Adams  of  Adams  Point  bought  the  old  meeting  house 
and  with  the  lumber  erected  some  boarding  houses  at  Salmon 
Falls  and  Great  Falls.     Some  of  the  round  posts  under  the  gal- 


HISTORY    OF    DURHAM 


209 


leries  now  form  a  part  of  the  pagoda  on  the  shore  of  the  bay  near 
the  residence  of  Mr.  Adams. 

The  new  meeting  house,  or  church,  as  some  have  since  pre- 
ferred to  call  it,  was  erected  on  a  lot  purchased  of  Samuel  Dun- 
star  for  $250.  The  contractor  and  builder  was  Moses  H. 
Wiggin,  Esq.  The  plans  cost  $31,  and  the  cost  of  the  furnace  for 
heating  it  was  Si 50.  The  total  cost  was  $3,325.  In  1851  an 
organ  was  put  in  at  a  cost  of  $500.     The  church  was  paid  for  by 


(  lONGREGATIONAL    CHURCH 


sale  of  pews,  a  method  of  church  building  then  much  in  vogue, 
which  public  opinion  now  disapproves  as  hostile  to  the  general 
spirit  and  purpose  of  a  christian  church.  The  rich  and  the 
poor  should  meet  together  for  worship,  the  Lord  being  the  maker 
of  them  all.  The  easiest  way  of  getting  money  for  religious 
purposes  is  not  always  the  best  way.  The  new  church  was  dedi- 
cated 13  September  1840. 

The  successor  of  Mr.  Tobey  was  the  Rev.  Henry  Laurens 
Talbot,  born  4  August  1836  at  East  Machias,  Me.  He  was 
graduated  at  Andover  Seminary  in   1870  and  was  installed  at 

14 


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d  * 
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z   « 

o  -^ 
£  .2 

<    to 

-     3 

i  3 

0    & 


HISTORY    OF    DURHAM  211 

Durham,  i  January  1873.  He  was  dismissed  at  his  request  13 
March  1882  and  made  his  residence  in  Durham  until  his  death. 
During  his  pastorate  twenty-five  new  members  were  added  to 
the  church. 

The  Rev.  Samuel  H.  Barnum  was  the  next  pastor.  He  was 
graduated  at  Yale  College  in  1875  and  at  Yale  Theological  Sem- 
inary in  1879.  He  preached  about  three  years  at  Salisbury, 
N.  H.  He  began  his  ministry  in  Durham  30  July  1882  and  was 
installed  25  April  1883.  During  his  pastorate  was  organized  the 
Young  People's  Society  of  Christian  Endeavor.  He  was  dis- 
missed 25  March  1890,  having  accepted  a  call  to  Cornwall,  Vt. 

The  church  was  then  without  a  settled  pastor  till  30  April 
1895,  during  which  time  the  Rev.  Charles  H.  Chapin  acted  as 
pastor.  He  was  educated  at  Cornell  University  and  had  preached 
at  Acworth  and  Lyme,  N.  H.  During  his  pastorate  the  church 
was  repaired  and  enlarged,  and  a  new  organ  and  a  new  furnace 
were  put  in. 

The  Rev.  Oliver  D.  Sewall  commenced  preaching  in  Durham, 
1  April  1895.  He  was  born  at  Chesterville,  Me.,  23  January 
1865  and  was  graduated  at  Bowdoin  College  in  1887  and  at 
Andover  Theological  Seminary  in  1892.  He  was  pastor  at 
Strong,  Me.,  two  years.  He  was  installed  at  Durham  30  April 
1895,  and  remained  two  years.  He  was  assistant  pastor  at 
Brookline,  Mass.,  from  1897  till  1909,  and  has  since  been  pastor 
at  Great  Barrington,  Mass. 

The  Rev.  William  S.  Beard  was  born  in  Harwich,  Mass.,  9 
June  1870,  son  of  the  Rev.  William  Henry  and  Mary  Adelaide 
(Parker)  Beard,  grandson  of  the  Rev.  Spencer  Field  Beard.  He 
was  graduated  from  Phillips  Academy,  Andover,  in  1890,  from 
Yale  Academic  in  1894  and  from  the  Yale  Divinity  School  in 
1897.  After  serving  a  short  time  at  Westchester  and  at  South 
Killingly,  Conn.,  he  accepted  a  call  to  Durham,  where  he  began 
his  work  in  July  1897.  He  was  ordained  and  installed  28  Sep- 
tember 1897,  and  remained  till  the  last  Sunday  in  June  1908. 
During  his  pastorate  the  parsonage  was  purchased  and  en- 
tirely remodeled;  the  chapel  was  moved  from  its  old  location  to 
its  present  one  and  was  enlarged,  providing  parlor,  study,  dining 
room  and  kitchen.  The  church  and  chapel  were  painted  and 
renovated,  newly  cushioned  and  carpeted  and  refitted  with  elec- 
tric lights,  and  water  was  introduced.     Mr.   Beard  was  secre- 


212 


HISTORY   OF    DURHAM 


tary  of  the  Village  Improvement  Society  and  served  six  months 
on  the  school  board.  He  was  called  to  the  First  Congregational 
Church  at  Willimantic,  Conn.,  where  he  began  his  work  in 
September  1908,  and  where  he  still  is  pastor. 

The  successor  of  Mr.  Beard  was  the  Rev.  Telesphore  Taisne, 
son  of  Augustin  and  Clara  (Le  Vigne)  Taisne,  born  in  Caulery, 
France,  29  May  1876.  He  was  educated  at  the  French-American 
College,  Springfield,  Mass.,  graduating  in  1899,  and  in  Hartford 


Congregational  Church 


Theological  Seminary,  graduating  in  1902.  He  was  ordained  to 
the  Congregational  ministry  at  the  French  church,  Marlboro, 
Mass.,  25  November  1902,  and  remained  with  that  church  two 
years.  From  1903  to  1909  he  was  pastor  of  the  Sixth  Street 
Church,  Auburn,  Me.,  where  he  was  a  member  of  the  school 
board.  He  began  preaching  in  Durham  the  first  Sunday  in 
February  1909,  and  was  installed  as  pastor  18  May  of  the  same 
year,  where  he  remained  till  his  death,  23  December  191 1,  from 


HISTORY    OF   DURHAM  213 

typhoid  fever.  He  married,  2  July  1902,  at  Westfield,  Mass., 
Winifred  N.  Chisholm,  daughter  of  Oscar  H.,  and  Julia  (Cuson) 
Chisholm,  who  survives  him.  During  his  pastorate  he  taught 
very  acceptably  several  classes  in  French  in  the  college  and  the 
last  year  of  his  life  he  had  charge  of  the  chapel  exercises.  Mr. 
Taisne  was  regarded  as  one  of  the  stronger  preachers  of  his 
denomination,  and  his  untimely  death  cast  a  gloom  over  the 
community. 

The  present  pastor  of  the  church  is  the  Rev.  Fred  T.  Knight, 
who  was  born  in  Boston,  Mass.,  12  August  1859.  He  was  edu- 
cated at  the  Boston  Latin  School,  Harvard,  1881,  Harvard  Law 
School,  1884,  Hartford  Theological  Seminary,  1895.  He  prac- 
tised law  ten  years  in  Boston.  His  pastorates  have  been  in 
Quincy,  Mass.,  1897-1900,  Stamford,  Conn.,  1902-04,  North- 
bridge,  Mass.,  1904-08,  Harwich,  Mass.,  1910-12,  Durham, 
1  December  1912  to  the  present  time.  He  married,  29  June 
1898,  Cara  W.  Hanscom. 

Deacons,  and  Dates  of  Their  Election 

Nathaniel  Hill,  1718  Valentine  Mathes,  1781,  de- 
Samuel  Emerson,  17 18  clined  to  serve 

John  Ambler,  1718  Walter  Bryant,  1781 

James  Nock,  1721  Abraham  Perkins,  1819 

John  Williams,  1722  William  Wiggin,  1826 

James  Langley,  1724  John  Thompson,  1835 

Joseph  Wheeler,  1732  William  Tuttle,  Jr.,  1869 

Jonathan  Thompson,  before  1738  James  M.  Smart,  1869 

Ebenezer  Smith,  before  1752  John  E.  Thompson,  1874 

Benjamin  Wheeler,  before  1766  Winthrop  S.  Meserve,  1877 

Jeremiah  Burnham  Albert  Young,  1894 

Hubbard  Stevens,  before  1765  Charles  H.  Pettee,  1896 

Lieut.  John  Smith  Arthur  F.  Nesbitt,  1907 

Nathaniel  Norton,  before  1777  Forrest  E.  Cardullo,  1912 

Samuel  Joy,  1791  Charles  E.  Hewitt,  1913 

Parsonages 

The  first  parsonage,  occupied  by  the  Rev.  John  Buss,  was  near 
the  first  meeting  house,  by  the  oyster  bed,  and  was  burned  in 
1694.     Just  where  Mr.  Buss  lived  afterward  does  not  appear,  but 


214 


HISTORY   OF    DURHAM 


there  is  a  tradition  that  he  lived  on  the  parsonage  lot,  just  south  of 
the  road  from  the  Falls  to  the  Point. 

Another  parsonage  was  built  in  1739,  on  an  acre  of  land  bought 
of  Lieut.  Samuel  Smith,  and  Lieut.  Jonathan  Thompson  and 
Lieut.  Francis  Mathes  were  a  committee  to  receive  a  deed  for 
the  same.  The  price  paid  was  £31.  This  land  was  near  the 
top  of  the  hill  as  one  goes  from  the  Falls  to  the  Point,  on  the 
north  side  of  the  road  after  passing  the  road  to  Newmarket,  in 


The  Parsonage 


the  rear  of  the  small  house  now  called  the  Johnson  house.  The 
town  records  say  that  this  parsonage  was  sold  in  1831  for  $26.50. 
Here  lived  the  Rev.  John  Adams  and  the  Rev.  Curtis  Coe. 

The  house  built  about  1720  by  the  Rev.  Hugh  Adams,  a 
few  rods  south  of  the  so-called  Sullivan  house,  was  occupied  by 
him  and  later  by  the  Rev.  Mr.  Tobey,  and  has  been  called  a 
parsonage,  though  it  was  never  owned  by  the  parish.  It  was 
removed  to  the  north  side  of  Denbow's  brook,  on  the  road  to 
Newmarket,  was  repaired  and  is  still  in  good  condition. 


HISTORY   OF   DURHAM  215 

The  present  parsonage  of  the  Congregational  Church  was 
built  by  Capt.  Andrew  Lapish  Simpson  before  his  marriage  to 
Lydia  Kelley,  23  September  1840.  The  barn  was  the  old  house 
owned  and  occupied  by  William  Odiorne,  ship-builder  and  com- 
missioner for  the  preservation  of  forests.  He  married  Avis, 
daughter  of  the  Rev.  Hugh  Adams.  He  sold  his  "mansion  house " 
to  Timothy  Meader  in  1770.  Afterward  it  was  owned  by  Robert 
Lapish,  and  then  by  his  son-in-law,  Andrew  Simpson,  and  by 
Capt.  Simpson  until  about  the  time  of  his  marriage.  His  widow, 
Mrs.  Lydia  (Kelley)  Simpson,  died  31  May  1895,  aged  81  years 
and  four  months.  She  joined  the  church  in  Durham,  10  February 
1833,  and  was  always  liberal  in  its  support.  She  is  remembered  as 
kind  and  benevolent,  a  friend  to  the  church  and  to  all  in  need, 
one  whose  social  qualities  drew  around  her  many  friends.  She 
bequeathed  this  house  to  the  Congregational  Society  in  Durham 
and  to  the  Durham  Library  Association.  The  latter  sold  their 
half  to  the  former,  and  the  house  has  been  used  as  a  parsonage 
since  1895.  Capt.  Simpson  was  a  noted  sea-captain  and  doubled 
Cape  Horn  twenty-six  times.  He  was  representative  several 
years  in  the  State  legislature.    He  died  18  December  1870. 

The  First  Christian  Church  in  Durham 

The  organization  of  this  church  was  due  to  the  efforts  of  the 
Rev.  William  Demeritt,  who  was  ordained  at  Lee,  11  July  1816, 
together  with  the  Rev.  Israel  Chesley.  The  audience  was  so 
large  that  the  meeting  house  could  not  hold  them.  A  hay-rack 
was  turned  upside  down,  and  the  bottom  of  it  was  used  as  a 
platform  for  the  ordination  ceremonies. 

Elder  Demeritt  was  a  minister  of  commanding  presence  and 
popular  gifts.  He  served  in  the  ministry  gratuitously  on  prin- 
ciple. He  also  acted  as  selectman  in  1812,  1833  and  1834.  He 
is  said  to  have  baptized  and  married  more  persons  than  any 
other  minister  in  his  region  of  country.  The  baptisms  were  by 
immersion  just  below  the  bridge,  and  sometimes  the  ice  was  cut 
from  the  river  in  preparation  for  the  solemn  rite. 

The  First  Christian  Church  was  organized  4  December  1819 
and  held  its  first  meetings  in  private  houses  and  in  the  old  school 
house  west  of  the  residence  of  Mrs.  Albert  L.  Comings.  The 
brick  meeting   house  was  built  on   the  site  of  the  old   George 


2l6  HISTORY   OF    DURHAM 

Chesley  dwelling  house,  which  was  burned  24  September  1823,. 
when  widow  Sarah  Chesley  and  Patrick  Cog  an,  who  had  been  a 
quartermaster  in  the  Revolution,  perished  in  the  flames.  The 
brick  church  was  dedicated  20  January  1825. 

The  following  brief  but  sufficient  agreement  was  made  by  the 
first  members  of  this  church : 

We  the  subscribers,  professed  followers  of  Jesus  Christ,  agree  to  strive  to 
walk  together  in  the  spirit  of  a  Church  of  Christ,  to  take  the  scriptures  for  our 
guide  and  Christ  our  head,  to  watch  over  each  other  for  our  benefit,  the  strong 
to  bear  the  infirmities  of  the  weak,  and  so  fulfill  the  law  of  God,  to  be  known 
by  the  name  of  the  First  Christian  Church  in  Durham. 

The  organizing  members  were  Daniel  Mathes,  Robert  Mathes, 
James  Chesley,  Benjamin  Mathes,  Ebenezer  Doe,  Richard  Kent, 
John  Meader,  Ebenezer  Parsons,  Benjamin  Dame,  Isaac  Water- 
house,  William  Demeritt,  Aenon  Barhew,  Deborah  Chesley,  Mrs. 
Lapish,  Elizabeth  Durgin,  Sally  Chesley,  Susan  Mathes,  Betsy 
Mathes,  Sally  Doe,  Olive  Emerson,  Mary  Demeritt,  Comfort 
Laskey,  Sally  Parsons,  Susan  Chesley,  Mary  Dame,  Drusilla 
Wiggin,  Hannah  Pendergast,  Nancy  Fowler,  Abigail  Demeritt, 
Betsy  Randall,  Lovey  Whitehouse,  Margaret  Appleton,  Lois 
Smart,  Mrs.  Henderson,  Loisa  Doe,  Abigail  Leigh  ton,  Lovey 
Edgerly,  Olive  Smart,  Avis  Bodge,  and  Sally  Mathes. 

Elder  Elijah  Shaw  became  the  minister  of  this  church  in  1842, 
when  there  were  thirty-four  male  members  and  fifty  female 
members;  notwithstanding  twenty -three  members  had  died  since 
its  organization  and  forty  had  joined  other  churches.  Rev. 
Elijah  Shaw  was  born  at  Kensington,  N.  H.,  19  December  1793 
and  died  at  Fall  River,  Mass.,  5  May  1851.  He  served  as  pastor 
at  Salisbury,  Mass.,  Portland,  Me.,  Lowell,  Mass.,  Durham, 
Franklin,  N.  H.,  and  Fall  River,  Mass.,  and  also  as  editor  of  the 
Christian  Journal.  Elder  Mosher  was  chosen  pastor  in  1850  and 
Elder  J.  S.  Smith  in  1862. 

The  Christian  Society  was  incorporated  in  1850  and  the  fol- 
lowing persons  signed  its  Constitution:  James  Langley,  Daniel 
Mathes,  Stephen  Reynolds,  Gideon  C.  Pitman,  James  Smart, 
Jacob  Sheppard,  Thomas  B.  Mathes,  Clement  M.  Davis, 
Thomas  Bartlett,  Samuel  Runlett,  Richard  Follet,  Daniel  Lee, 
John  Ellison,  William  J.  Chesley,  William  Walker,  Samuel  E. 
Mosher,  William  W.  Jackson,  Timothy  Demeritt,  Nathan 
Keniston,  Caleb  G.  Cloutman,  Albert  L.  Gleason,  J.  S.  Smith, 


HISTORY   OF    DURHAM  21J 

H.  W.  B.  Grover,  Charles  H.  Whitehorn,  Willard  C.  Tufts, 
William  D.  Langley,  Marcus  M.  Estabrooks,  Albert  Young,  and 
Job.  R.  Giles. 

The  church  gradually  declined  and  the  brick  meeting  house 
was  sold  at  auction,  with  the  land  adjoining,  n  June  1889,  to  the 
Town  School  District,  for  $255.  The  proceeds  were  divided 
among  the  pew  owners,  the  final  dividend  being  made  in  1894. 


ROADS 

For  some  years  after  the  first  settlements  in  Dover  the  rivers 
were  the  only  highways,  and  the  only  vehicles  were  boats.  When 
horses  came  into  use,  bridle  paths  were  made  through  the  forests, 
following  probably  in  some  instances  old  Indian  trails.  These 
were  gradually  widened  to  permit  the  hauling  of  masts  and  tim- 
ber. The  winding  paths  of  least  resistance  were  followed,  little 
care  being  taken  to  avoid  steep  hills  or  to  cut  them  down.  The 
brooks  and  shallow  streams  were  forded.  Bridges  and  carriage 
roads  came  much  later.  For  the  Mast  Roads  in  Durham  see 
Miss  Mary  P.  Thompson's  Landmarks  in  Ancient  Dover  for  a 
full  description. 

The  first  road  of  which  there  is  any  historical  mention  is  that 
from  Oyster  River  Point,  now  Durham  Point,  to  "Hills  Mill," 
at  the  Falls,  in  1659,  when  this  highway  was  presented  at  Court 
because  of  its  bad  condition.  The  path  at  the  head  of  John- 
sons' Creek  was  presented  at  the  same  time.  This  was  the  path 
leading  from  the  Falls  to  Cochecho. 

In  1663  Philip  Chesley  and  Patrick  Jameson  were  chosen  "to 
lay  out  the  heigways  from  Oyster  River  to  Cochechae  and  make 
the  heigways  fitt  for  horse  and  foot  and  bring  thear  a  Compt 
of  thear  charges  to  the  Townsmen." 

In  1664  Capt.  Ralph  Hall  and  Dea.  John  Hall  were  ordered  to 
lay  out  a  highway  from  Lamprill  River  fall  to  the  water  side  in 
Great  Bay,  through  what  was  afterward  called  Doe's  Neck,  in 
Newmarket,  then  a  part  of  Dover.     See  page  32. 

In  1686  John  Woodman,  Thomas  Edgerly,  Nicholas  Harrison, 
John  Wingate,  and  John  Tuttle,  selectmen,  reported  that  they 
had  laid  out  highways  as  follows:  "from  Willies  Creeke  near 
Bickfords  Ferry  unto  Oyster  River  fall,"  and  also  a  road  to  "  Bel- 
limans  banke  falls,  neare  along  as  the  path  goes  fouer  Rods  in 
breadth  as  it  was  formerly  laid  out  by  John  Bickford  and  John 
Woodman  by  a  Towne  order."  They  also  reported  that  they 
had  "bin  Uppon  the  high  wayes  betwixt  Oyster  River  and  Lam- 
perele  River  &  have  laid  out  the  high  wayes  as  the  path  goes  to 
be  fouer  Rod  wide  from  Oyster  River  falls  to  Lampriele  River 
falls,  or  about  fortie  Rods  above  it  as  may  be  most  conuenient, 

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HISTORY   OF    DURHAM  221 

and  we  have  Laid  out  a  highway  from  oyster  River  falls  unto 
the  freshett  or  over  the  River  into  the  Commons  by  Edward 
Smalls  of  fower  Rod  wide  near  as  the  Path  now  goes." 

In  1701  it  was  voted  in  Dover  town  meeting  "that  a  highway 
be  laid  out  from  the  mast  path  to  the  Cheslies  mill  on  Oyster 
River  over  the  freshet,  to  run  by  Edward  Smalls  and  so  clear 
threw  to  the  old  way  formerly  Laid  into  the  commons  by 
Edward  Smalls  and  so  to  Lamperele  Second  Falls  maintaining 
the  same  breadth."  This  is  the  southerly  branch  of  the  Mill 
Road,  after  crossing  Oyster  River  at  Chesley's  Mill,  where  the 
ruins  of  the  old  dam  are  plainly  seen.  On  this  road  or  near  it 
lived  Jabez  Davis  and  Dea.  John  E.  Thompson  in  more  recent 
times,  whose  lonely  abandoned  house  is  perched  upon  the  bank 
close  to  the  railroad  cutting.  Here  was  once  a  fine  farm,  with 
beautiful  shade  trees  and  orchard  and  five  miles  of  well  laid  stone 
wall.  Further  out  on  this  road,  now  abandoned,  lived  Edward 
Small  two  hundred  or  more  years  ago.  In  Mr.  Caverno's  lower 
field  and  near  the  river  is  an  old  cellar,  where  some  say  Mr.  Bal- 
lard built  a  house,  but  the  land  seems  to  be  described  in  a  deed 
from  Jonathan  Woodman  and  his  wife,  Elizabeth,  of  Dover,  for 
"ye  Natural  Love  &  affection  wch  I  have  &  bear  to  my  Sister 
Mary  Small  of  Moniemay."  The  conveyance  was  of  twenty 
acres  on  the  "south  Side  of  Oyster  River  Betwixt  ye  Mill  Pond 
&  ye  River"  and  the  date  was  10  June  1707. 

In  the  year  1719  there  was  a  petition  for  the  reopening  of  the 
old  road  from  the  Falls  along  the  northwesterly  side  of  the 
freshet,  or  mill-pond.  The  original  petition  is  of  great  interest, 
since  it  has  the  autograph  signatures  of  over  forty  of  the  men  of 
Oyster  River  at  that  time.  The  petition  is  here  given  with  the 
names  underwritten,  except  two  or  three  that  can  not  be  de- 
ciphered easily. 

To  the  Worshipfull  Justices  now  siting  at  porthmouth  the  Compleint  of  us  the 
Subscribers  hombly  shueth  that  where  as  the  town  of  Douer  have  granted 
and  Laid  out  highways  at  the  hed  of  oyster  River  and  also  Land  Laid  out  for 
a  Landing  place  for  Laying  of  Timber  &  other  goods  which  now  fenced  up  by- 
Cap  Nathanil  Hill  and  sons  is  great  damage  to  the  Inhabitenc  there  for  their 


\^-'"^-xr 


HISTORY   OF    DURHAM  223 

hailing  of  timber  wood  and  fencing  which  we  hope  your  Worships  will  consider 
the  matter  and  do  his  Majesties  subjects  Justice  in  that  affair. 

Solomon  Davis  Thomas  Davis 

David  Kincaid  Moses  Davis 

Joshua  Davis  

John  Tasker  Abraham  Clark 

Edward  Pomry  Thomas  Drew 

James  Clark  William  Drew 

Tomas  Drew  Eli  Clark 

Clement  Drew  Samuel  Davis 

Joseph  Jenkens  Peter  Mason 

Joseph  Smalle  William  Pitman 

Benjamin  Smalle  Daniel  Davis 
Joseph  Davis 


Stephen  Jones  Timothy  Davis 

James  Davis  Joseph  Jenkins 

Joseph  Hicks  Nathaniel  Randel 

Daniel  Meserve  Thomas  Leighton 

Nichlos  Meader  Jeams  Basford 

Gorg  Chesle  James  Davis 

Elias  Critchett  Benj»  Thomas 

Job  Renells  John  Smith. 

The  matter  was  considered  in  court  and  the  following  deposi- 
tions are  filed  in  connection  with  the  case. 

The  Deposition  of  Moses  Davis  Testifieth  &  saith  that  Nathaniel  Hill  or 
p'sons  by  his  order  hath  fenced  up  the  high  way  that  Leads  from  Oyster 
River  falls  unto  ye  freshet  by  Edward  Smalls  and  also  the  Landing  Place  at 
Oyster  River  falls  by  Georg  Chesles  fence  and  have  also  in  croch  upon  the 
thorow  fair  Rhod  that  Leads  to  Cochecho  &  hath  maintained  the  fence  from 
the  first  of  march  last  past  unto  the  2  day  of  June  1719,  and  Daniel  Davis 
Testifieth  to  all  that  is  above  writen.     Sworne  in  Courte  June  2d  1719. 

Theodore  Atkinson,  Clerk. 

The  Deposition  of  John  Williams  Testifieth  and  sayeth  that  for  thirty  years 
and  upwards  that  he  was  a  Long  with  Bartholomew  Stevenson  that  Capt 
Peter  Coffen  came  a  Long  by  and  told  y«  afores<i  Stevenson  y  h<-  must  not 
fence  in  that  way  for  it  was  a  Loud  for  a  high  way:  which  way  was  upon  y» 
north  side  of  oyster  River  falls  from  y  falls  near  y»  freshett  and  so  by  Edward 
Smalls.  [Sworn  in  Court  in  the  same  action.  No  date.  See  Court  Files, 
No.  I7372-] 

This  indicates  that  the  old  cellar  above  mentioned,  where 
Mr.  Ballard  is  said  to  have  built  a  house,  marks  the  former  abode 
of  Edward  Small,  and  that  the  road  along  the  north  side  of  the 
mill-pond  antedated  by  several  years  the  road  now  known  as  the 
Mill  Road. 


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HISTORY    OF   DURHAM  225 

The  continuation  of  the  Mill  Road  toward  the  west  is  men- 
tioned in  the  records  of  a  town  meeting  held  28  May  1718: 

"Beginning  at  the  End  of  Highway  formerly  laid  out  to  Chesleys  mill  on 
the  south  side  of  sd  River,  the  way  to  be  fouer  Rods  wide  along  the  old  way 
Leaving  Moses  Davis  Junr  his  forty  acre  Lott  on  the  south  &  Bartholomew 
Staveson  his  ten  acre  Lott  on  the  North  &  so  along  the  Comons  Leving 
Daniel  Missarve  his  Thirty  acre  Lott  on  the  Northwest  and  so  on  the  Comons 
Leving  Moses  Davis  senr  his  four  score  acre  Lott  and  Thomas  Stephsons  Three 
score  acre  Lot  on  the  west  and  so  on  the  comons  to  William  folletts  hundred 
acre  Lott  at  Maharamuts  Marsh,  to  two  Trees  marked  H  fower  Rods  Distance. 
This  way  Laid  out  by  us  the  thurteenth  Day  of  June  1719."  Signed  by  James 
Davis  and  Thomas  Tibbetts. 

This  road  is  still  traveled.  At  its  end  lived,  a  century  ago, 
on  the  north  side,  Lieut.  David  Wiggin,  and  his  old  house  is  still 
standing.  The  family  burial  place,  surrounded  with  an  iron 
railing,  is  a  little  west  of  the  house.  The  Stevenson  family,  on 
the  south  side  of  the  road,  long  ago  disappeared,  and  their  only 
remembrancer  is  a  lonely  graveyard  in  the  eastern  part  of  a  large 
field.  Hilliard  F.  Fogg  owns  and  lives  on  this  old  Stevenson 
farm. 

Turning  to  the  south  at  the  end  of  the  road  above  described 
one  soon  passes  the  Griffiths  burial  ground  and  comes  to  the 
beautiful  residence  of  the  Griffiths  brothers,  with  shaded  and 
well-kept  lawn  and  broad,  fertile  acres  of  Moharimet's  Marsh, 
which  stretches  away  into  Croxford's  swamp. 

March  18,  1689. 

Then  laid  out  at  the  head  of  William  Beards  Creek  a  Certaine  percell  of 
Land  there  on  the  west  side  of  the  Creeke  for  the  Conuenience  of  a  landing 
place  and  high  waves;  the  bounds  of  the  said  land  and  high  waves  as  followeth : 

At  the  Creeke  8  rods  wide  &  from  thence  following  North  &  by  West  unto 
the  North  side  of  John  Wood  mans  land  North  Nor  west  unto  the  King  his 
high  waye  &  from  the  head  of  the  said  Woodman  his  land  ffourty  rods  North 
east  unto  a  Certaine  p'cell  of  Rocks  there,  where  wee  have  appointed  &  Laid 
out  two  high  wayes  of  4  rods  wide,  and  Runs  oucr  the  Brooke  neare  North 
west  &  then  north  north  east  &  by  east  unto  the  high  waye  unto  Newtowne: 
and  from  the  afore  said  Rocks  Another  high  waye  runs  North  west  &  by  North 
on  the  North  side  of  the  aforesaid  John  Woodman  his  land  into  the  Commons, 

These  landing  places  and  high  wayes  were  laid  out  by  virtue  of  an  order 
from  the  townsmen  bearing  date  Sept.  24,  1688, 

By  us — John  Woodman 
James  Huckins. 

The  above  named  landing  place  was  sold,  by  vote  of  the  town, 
to  Jonathan  Woodman  in  1779. 

15 


226 


HISTORY    OF   DURHAM 


The  landing  place  at  the  Falls,  though  in  use  from  the  time  of 
the  erection  of  the  first  mill  there,  about  1650,  was  formally  laid 
out  by  vote  of  the  town  taken  27  October  1701.  A  portion  of 
the  report  of  the  committee  has  been  given  on  page  71.  Begin- 
ning where  that  leaves  off  the  report  reads,  "and  alsoe  the  mast 
path  is  laid  out  fower  Rods  in  bredth  as  ye  sd  path  now  lyeth  or 
Leadeth  from  ye  sd  Landing  place  to  the  outmost  of  our  Towne 
bounds  for  a  publick  Heywaie.     Wee  have  alsoe  Laid  out  a  high- 


The  Road  to  Bagdad 
(Not  far  from  Beard's  Landing.) 


way  from  ye  Chesley  mill  at  Oyster  Riuer  to  the  mast  path  to 
be  fower  Rods  in  bredth  a  Long  as  ye  path  now  Ledeth  from  sd 
mill  to  ye  mast  path  as  may  appear  by  fower  trees  markt  H  and 
standing  at  ye  fower  Corners  of  ye  said  way."    Laid  out  14  June 

I703- 
Another  road  was  laid  out  the  same  year,  which  is  described 

as  follows: 

We  the  subscribers  hereof  have  laid  out  the  highway  from  oyster  bed  to 
oyster  Riuer,  through  the  Country  road  to  durty  gutt  by  Abraham  Clark  his 
house,  beginning  at  ye  Usuall  wadeing  place  att  oyster  bed  at  a  Pine  tree  on 
the  East  and  white  oak  on  the  West  at  4  Rods  distance  markt  H  each  of  them, 
from  thence  North  Easterly  to  the  west  side  of  ffollet  his  Rocky  hill,  aboue 
ffollet  his  barn,  and  then  it  Runes  on  the  East  side  of  the  next  Rocky  hill  by 


HISTORY    OF    DURHAM  22"] 

James  Bunker  his  barn  and  from  thence  to  the  Cartway  at  the  head  of  Bunker 
Creek  and  so  a  Long  threw  as  the  old  way  formerly  Lay  till  it  comes  to  a  Rock 
at  the  southwest  Corner  of  Nath  Lamos  his  Land,  from  thence  as  it  is  markt 
till  it  comes  to  the  bridge  at  Durty  gutt,  to  lye  4  Rods  wide  Clear  threw,  and 
allso  a  highway  from  that  leads  from  Ltt  Dauis  his  house,  beginning  att  a  white 
oak  marked  H  I  B  and  4  Rods  in  bredth  a  Long  by  the  head  of  Joseph  Bunker 
his  land  from  thence  to  the  King's  thorrofair  Road. 
Laid  out  this  9th  of  Aprill  1703  by  us 

Jno  Tuttle 
Jere  Burnum 
James  Dauis 

of  the  Comittee. 

Abraham  Clark  lived  near  the  boundary  line  between  Oyster 
River  parish  and  Dover  proper,  now  Madbury.  The  highway 
above  described  was  a  continuance  of  the  road  from  Cochecho. 
After  fording  Oyster  River  to  some  point  near  the  old  church 
the  path  continued  along  the  highway  between  the  parsonage 
lot  and  that  of  William  Williams,  later  of  Stephen  Jenkins,  and 
so  in  a  direct  course  through  Long  Marsh  to  Lamprey  River, 
now  Newmarket.  This  part  of  the  road  or  path  was  discon- 
tinued long  ago.  The  part  of  it  north  of  the  river  is  spoken  of 
in  a  deed  dated  3  October,  1720,  from  Joshua  Davis  to  Amos 
Pinkham,  as  the  road  "leading  from  James  Bunker's  into  ye 
main  road  that  goes  to  Cochecho." 

WhEREAS  we  the  subs««  hereof  being  chosen  with  others  to  be  a  Comitte 
to  survaie  and  Lay  out  highwaies  in  the  seueral  parts  of  the  Towne  of  douer 
for  the  Conueniency  of  the  Inhabitants,  and  being  desired  by  Lt.  James  Daues 
and  Joseph  Meader  to  lay  out  a  highway  from  the  heads  of  their  Lottes  to 
the  King  his  road,  thoro  fair  Road  according  to  a  vote  in  generall  Towne  meet- 
ing, ye  27th  October  1701,  and  being  Apon  the  place  or  ground  with  John  Ger- 
rish  Esqr.,  one  of  his  Maj«"  Juste»  of  Peace,  haue  laid  out  as  followeth  Viz — 
from  two  stumps  at  or  near  the  aforesaid  Dauis  and  Meader  their  land  at  about 
fower  Rods  distance  and  to  Rune  about  12  Rods  north  westerly,  Then  turning 
moer  westerly  keeping  the  hey  land  till  it  comes  to  a  hemlock  tree  in  the  nor- 
west  Corner  of  Mathew  Williams  his  forty  acre  grant,  in  the  tenure  of  Joseph 
Smith,  and  so  to  the  old  path  that  leads  to  Abraham  Clarks  and  so  Clear  Thoro 
to  the  king  his  thorofair  Road  as  the  way  now  goes,  to  be  fower  Rods  wide. 
Given  under  our  hands  this  29th  of  October  1701. 

Jno  Tuttle 
Will  ffurber 
Tristram  Heard 

of  the  Comitte 
Jone  Gerrish,  Just.  Pe. 


228  HISTORY   OF    DURHAM 

In  response  to  a  petition  of  James  Langley,  dated  25  July  1715, 
in  which  he  states  that  Bartholomew  Stevenson  had  penned  him 
up  to  a  way  only  eight  feet  wide  or  thereabout,  a  road  was  laid 
out  from  his  house  to  the  main  road. 

Wee  whose  names  are  under  Written  being  chosen  by  the  Towne  of  douer 
with  others  to  suruaie  and  Lay  out  high  waie  in  the  seuerall  pts  of  the  Towne 
and  being  desired  of  James  Langley  to  Lay  out  a  way  of  too  Rod  wide  begin- 
ning at  will  Drews  old  possession  joyning  to  the  bond  high  way  so  running 
sow  west  and  by  west  to  a  pine  tree  on  the  south  East  side  of  this  highway 
and  so  keeping  the  two  Rods  in  breadth  to  a  little  hill  Leaueing  the  Spring 
Seuen  Rods  on  the  nor  west  side  of  the  highway,  keeping  the  same  breadth 
south  southwest  to  the  highway  that  goeth  from  Willeyes  Creek  to  Oyster 
Riuer  falls  to  a  white  oke  markt  H.  I.  S.  and  william  drews  wood  lott  on  the 
south  east  of  this  highway. 

James  Davis 
Jeremiah  burnum 

Recorded  may  ye  28,  1716  Thomas  Tebbets 

This  old  road  over  the  "little  hill"  can  now  be  easily  traced, 
though  its  course  has  been  changed  toward  the  west,  to  avoid 
the  hill.  William  Drew's  house  and  wood  lot  are  mentioned, 
though  he  had  been  dead  forty-six  years.  There  was  an  old 
landing  on  Giles'  Creek,  that  was  connected  with  this  road,  as 
shown  by  a  deposition  made  about  1710  by  "Bat  Stimson," 
[Bartholomew  Stevenson],  aged  about  50,  that  "there  is  a  land- 
ing place  laid  out  against  Thomas  Drew's  dore  on  ye  south  side  of 
Mathew  Goyles  [Giles']  Creek  and  buts  against  the  waye  that  goes 
to  Oyster  River  falls,  and  Thomas  Pitman  have  got  a  marked 
tree  in  his  possession  as  the  waye  was  laid  out."  [Court  Files, 
17372.] 

Here  is  the  Long  Marsh  Road: 

It  is  the  request  of  thirty  eight  of  the  Inhabetance  of  the  Parrish  of  oyster 
Riuer  to  haue  a  high  way  of  three  Rods  to  bee  Laid  out  from  a  highway  that 
Leads  to  willeys  Creek  to  ye  Kings  Thorowfare  Road  that  Leads  to  Lampereel 
Riuer  and  it  is  laid  out  as  followeth,  beginning  att  the  hed  of  the  Lane  att  a 
Place  Called  Team  hill  and  so  along  between  fransis  Matheus  Twelue  Acre 
Lot  and  the  Lott  hee  bought  of  John  Wille  and  ouer  the  South  Corner  of  Math- 
eus his  Seauenteen  acor  Lott  and  ouer  the  north  Corner  of  the  Poynt  wood 
Lott  and  soe  along  whear  the  Path  now  goes  and  on  the  north  East  side  of  a 
grate  Rock  and  soe  on  the  north  side  of  John  Willeys  indwelling  hous  and  so 
Down  to  the  Long  marsh  and  over  the  Marsh  to  the  highway  that  Leads  from 
oyster  Riuer  falls  to  Lamperell  Riuer  Bridg.  This  highway  Laid  out  and 
bounded  the  22  Day  of  February  1720/21  by  us, 

Thomas  Tebbets 
John  Smith 
fransis  Mathues. 


HISTORY   OF    DURHAM  229 

At  a  General  Session  of  the  Peace,  6  March,  1710/11,  com- 
plaint having  been  made  about  the  want  of  roads  from  town  to 
town,  a  committee  was  appointed  in  each  town  to  run  such  roads 
as  they  thought  necessary,  laying  them  out  four  rods  wide.  The 
Dover  committee  consisted  of  Capt.  Tuttle,  Capt.  James  Davis 
and  Joseph  Jones.  The  laying  out  of  the  road  through  Durham 
was  as  follows: 

From  Lampereal  River  as  Strait  as  it  may  be  to  the  old  Bridge  by  ye  Moat 
so  as  ye  way  goes  to  Graves  IWilliam  Graves]  his  Land  thence  to  the  falls,  to 
make  the  whole  four  rods  wide,  and  there  ye  way  is  to  open  on  ye  Left  at  Stim- 
sons  [Bartholomew  Stevenson's  ?]  and  at  Robert  Huggins  [Huckins]  his  house. 
So  at  Wm  Jacksons  pasture  to  ye  head  of  Jacksons  Creek  Strait  as  ye  old  Road 
went  then  Joseph  Jenkins  to  open  on  ye  Left  &  all  others  to  make  ye  way  four 
Reds  wide  to  Fields  Garrison. 

At  the  last  point  it  entered  the  Back  River  Road  to  Cochecho. 
[N.  H.  Town  Papers,  XI,  539.] 

June  9,  1738,  a  road  was  laid  out  from  the  highway  at  New- 
town saw  mill,  on  the  south  side  of  Oyster  River,  in  a  south- 
west direction  by  the  land  of  John  Sias,  following  the  old  way  to 
Solomon  Sias'  land,  and  so  on  to  the  mast  road  that  leads  from 
Little  River.  [See  Town  Records,  Vol.  I,  p.  21.]  This  mill  was 
afterward  known  as  Layn's  Mill.     It  is  in  Lee. 

Aug.  10,  1745: 

Then  laid  out  a  high  way  from  a  picked  Rock  by  Thomas  Willeys  new  house 
where  he  now  dwelleth  and  from  thence  on  a  straight  Course  to  James  bun- 
kers northwest  Corner  bound  of  his  twenty  five  acrees,  it  being  a  great  oak 
Stump,  then  East  &  by  north  forty  Rods  to  said  bunkers  north  bound  then  near 
north  East  to  the  Maple  brook  so  called,  this  high  way  to  be  on  the  north  side 
of  the  above  sd  Courses  three  Rods  wide  tell  it  Comes  against  the  Rock  first 
mentioned,  laid  out  by  us, 

Dan'    Smith     Select 
John  Williams  men. 

Here  is  a  road  in  the  western  part  of  the  town : 

A  highway  laid  out  on  the  Common  Land  from  a  place  called  Camsey  [Camp- 
sie],  from  the  head  of  Mr.  Robert  Tomsons  fence  to  Mr.  William  Drews  and 
So  to  the  River  be  Low  Deans  mash  and  from  thence  to  the  head  of  the  Town, 
by  a  partition  [petition]  under  their  hands  directed  to  us,  the  present  Select- 
men  for  said  town,  and  by  their  request  we  have  laid  out  the  way  and  bounded 
it  as  followeth,  beginning  on  the  north  side  of  the  Mast  Road  on  the  south  or 
west  corner  of  Mr.  Robert  Tomsons  fence  called  Camsey  and  from  that  fence 
is  bounded  by  the  Spoted  Trees  as  tiny  now  standeth  Riming  westerly  four 
Rods  from  Joseph  Jones  barn  then  by  the  spoted  trees  so  between  Mr.  W'il- 


230  HISTORY   OF    DURHAM 

Ham  Drews  and  Ely  Claries  house.  Then  by  the  spoted  trees  to  Newtown 
River  below  Deans  mash  and  then  by  the  Spoted  trees  Runing  near  Richard 
Glovers  House  and  then  by  the  spoted  Trees  to  a  way  called  Willes  way  so 
as  that  way  leads  to  the  head  of  the  Town  being  fouer  Rods  wide;  Laid  out 
and  bounded  by  us  the  present  Selectmen  this  29  day  of  January  in  the  year: 
1 733/4-  [Signed  by  Joseph  Jones,  John  Williams  and  John  Woodman  as 
Selectmen.] 

Dean's  Marsh,  doubtless,  took  its  name  from  the  John  Dean 
who  was  the  first  one  killed  in  the  massacre  of  1694,  and  "the 
place  called  Camsey"  is  explained  in  connection  with  the  Kin- 
caid  family. 

The  road  known  as  the.  Wine  Cellar  Road  was  laid  out  as  fol- 
lows : 

By  and  at  the  Request  of  sundry  of  the  inhabitants  of  the  town  of  Durham 
we  have  laid  out  a  high  way  from  Luberland  to  the  Kings  Rode  between  Rich- 
ard Denbos  field  and  John  Buss  Jum.  We  began  at  a  great  Rock  between 
John  Smiths  house  and  John  Does  marsh  &  from  thence  by  said  Does  marsh 
and  so  between  Jos  Whelers  land  &  John  Smith  Junr  land  to  Tho>  Langles 
land  &  from  thence  to  the  wine  selers  &  so  along  on  the  sow  west  of  Joseph 
Edgerleys  land  and  so  along  on  the  N  Est  side  of  John  Willes  Junr  house  to 
the  Rode  between  John  Burnum  fence  and  the  s<*  Willes  land  to  a  great  rock 
marked  H  and  from  thence  by  John  Buses  fence  to  the  Countrey  Rode  this 

Rode  is  three  Rods  wide  from  the  last  Rock  marked  H  the  other  part  from 

town  to  luberland  is  laid  out  four  Rods  in  wedth  all  along  sd  Rode.  Laid  out 
and  bounded  by  us  this  16  day  of  March  1735  6.  [Signed  by  Jonathan  Thom- 
son, John  Woodman  and  Samuel  Smith,  Selectmen.] 

In  company  with  Dea.  W.  S.  Meserve  I  rode  over  this  road  in 
April  1913,  and  probably  no  wheeled  vehicle  will  ever  go  over  it 
again.  The  carriage  as  well  as  the  lives  of  the  horse  and  riders 
should  be  well  insured  before  making  the  attempt.  Such  de- 
clivities and  superabundance  of  ledge  and  boulders  make  us  won- 
der how  any  selectmen  ever  dared  to  lay  out  a  road  there;  but 
the  people  living  at  Lubberland  wanted  a  shorter  route  to  the 
meeting  house  at  the  Falls.  The  road  started  near  the  house  of 
the  late  Valentine  Smith  and  from  there  to  the  Back  Road, 
through  Horn's  Woods,  it  is  known  by  the  name  of  Simon's  Lane, 
most  likely  from  Joseph  Simons,  who,  8  February  1727  8,  mar- 
ried Elizabeth,  daughter  of  Elder  James  Nock,  who  lived  in  this 
vicinity.  Perhaps  it  is  the  lane  through  which  Joseph  walked 
to  woo  Elizabeth,  for  we  may  well  believe  that  this  road  was 
used  as  a  bridle  path  some  years  before  it  was  "laid  out."  After 
reaching  the  Back  Road  it  followed  that  easterly  for  perhaps 
twenty  rods;    then  it  struck  through  the  woods  and  rocks  again 


HISTORY   OF   DURHAM  23  I 

to  the  Long  Marsh  Road  and  followed  that,  as  it  formerly  ran, 
to  the  Newmarket  Road  near  Denbo's  Brook,  or  Horsehide 
Brook,  as  it  is  now  sometimes  called.  John  Buss  seems  to  have 
been  living  here,  perhaps  on  the  ten  acres  of  ministerial  marsh 
land  granted  long  before  by  the  town  and  concerning  which  there 
was  a  law  suit  between  the  Rev.  Hugh  Adams  and  the  Rev.  Mr. 
Gilman.  Most  of  this  old  road  was  long  ago  abandoned.  Only 
Mr.  Patrick  Connor  lives  on  it  now,  without  whose  kindly  as- 
sistance we  would  hardly  have  gotten  through  alive.  He  dis- 
owns all  relationship  to  the  Timothy  and  James  Conner  who 
were  from  Ireland  and  residents  of  Durham  about  the  time  of 
its  incorporation. 

There  is  a  huge  overhanging  boulder  along  this  abandoned 
road,  that  according  to  tradition  was  the  sheltering  place  of  wine 
in  the  old  days,  and  hence  the  name  of  the  Wine  Cellar  Road, 
but  notice  that  in  the  return  of  the  road,  given  above,  the  phrase 
is  "wine  selers."  Were  there  those  who  sold  wine  living  there? 
The  names  in  the  return  of  the  road  indicate  owners  of  land 
along  the  way  rather  than  residents,  for  there  is  hardly  room  be- 
tween the  rocks  for  more  than  one  family  to  live. 

The  northerly  end  of  this  road  seems  to  be  further  described 
in  a  highway  granted  20  May  1727  and  laid  out  15  June  1734. 
It  was  granted  to  John  Willey,  Jr.,  "  from  His  House  to  ye  Contre 
Rode  between  John  Buss  and  Richard  Denmor  [s]  Field,"  a  road 
three  rods  wide,  "by  sd  Willeys  House  and  From  thence  to  a  grat 
Rock  marked  H  on  ye  west  Side  of  said  way  which  is  called  John 
Buss  Corner  Bound  next  to  sd  Willeys  House  so  from  sd  Rock 
Bounded  between  John  Buss  and  Richard  Denmor  to  yee  Contre 
Rode." 

At  the  request  of  several  of  the  inhabitants  of  the  town  of  Durham  that  we 

the  subscribers  should  lay  out  a  highway  for  the  Priviledg  of  the  town  above 

said  from  the  Kings  highway  to  the  Salt  water  and  for  a  Priviledg  to  Pass  to 

the  meeting  house  at  the  falls  in  sd  town  and  according  to  their  Request  we 

have  laid  it  out  Beginning  at  the  East  Side  of  the  Kings  high  way  on  the  South 

Side  of  the  Bridge  at  Oyster  River  falls  in  sd  town  sow  Running  by  the  Kings 

high  way  to  the  Land  of  Daniel  Rogers  where  he  now  lives  and  then  Running 

Partly  by  sd  Daniel  Rogers  Land  and  Partly  by  the  Land  of  Mr.  Hugh  Adams 

down  to  the  salt  River  and  bounded  by  the  River  up  to  said  bridge  a  high  way 

laid  out  and  bounded  by  us  for  the  Benefit  of  the  Town. 

Joseph  Atkinson  1   _  .    , 
/  r-  r^  Select- 

ive 14  Day  of  March  1742  '3.  Ephraim  Davis      >  ^^ 

Ebenezer  Smith 


232  HISTORY    OF    DURHAM 

This  highway  ran  around  the  old  meeting  house.  Some  claimed 
about  this  time  that  the  house  of  Dr.  Samuel  Adams,  now  called 
the  Sullivan  house,  stood  partly  on  land  belonging  to  the  town 
landing,  and  a  committee  was  appointed  to  investigate  the  mat- 
ter. No  report  has  been  found.  June  29,  1744,  an  article  in 
the  town  warrant  was  to  see  if  the  town  will  build  a  bridge  over 
the  falls  "where  the  old  bridge  now  standeth  also  what  man- 
ner of  bridge  whether  a  cart  Bridge  or  a  horse  bridge  and  what 
breadth  the  bridge  shall  be  built."  It  was  voted  to  build  a  cart 
bridge  fifteen  feet  wide.  It  is  probable  that  the  old  one, — how 
old  can  not  now  be  said, — was  a  horse  bridge  for  the  accommoda- 
tion of  those  riding  horseback  and  very  narrow. 

October  12,  1737,  John  Woodman  and  Samuel  Smith,  select- 
men, "Capt.  Francis  Mathes  being  present  and  assisted  in  Lay- 
ing out  this  High  way  But  deceased  before  Sinning"  [signing]* 
laid  out  a  road  as  follows: 

We  began  at  Wensday  Brook  the  said  Road  is  three  Rods  wide  Running 
by  Nathaniel  Meaders  Land  so  along  by  a  great  Hill  and  then  it  Runeth  over 
the  South  Side  of  Said  Hill  to  a  gutter  between  Thomas  Stevensons  Land  and 
Thomas  Footmans  Land  so  Running  between  said  lots  till  it  Comes  to  the 
Turn  and  then  Runing  between  Meaders  and  Smiths  Land  till  it  comes  to 
Joshua  Woodmans  Land."    [See  Town  Book,  Vol.  I,  p.  40.] 

April  4,  1752,  Samuel  Smith,  Joseph  Wheeler,  and  Joseph 
Thomas,  Selectmen,  laid  out  a  road  two  rods  wide,  beginning 
"at  Moses  Davises  fence  seventy  nine  Rods  from  Leut  Joneses 
fence  so  caled  near  folets  Swamp  at  the  head  of  John  Woodmans 
land  next  to  or  near  Jonathan  Monses  [Munsey's]  land  and  from 
thence  it  Runs  west  north  west  seventeen  Rods  to  or  near  a  stone,, 
then  it  Runs  near  north  to  sd  Moses  Davises  Land,  this  high  way 
laid  out  at  his  Request  and  for  his  use  for  ever."  [Town  Book, 
Vol.  I,  p.  33-] 

April  9,  1753,  Joseph  Wheeler  and  Joseph  Thomas,  selectmen, 
laid  out  "a  small  peice  of  Land  for  a  high  way,"  "beginning  at 
the  sd  Rode  or  high  way  that  leads*  from  ye  Point  to  sd  Oyster 
River  falls  at  where  Joseph  Wheler  joins  to  sd  Rode  or  high  way 
and  Running  bounding  on  sd  last  mentioned  high  way  untell  it 
comes  to  the  above  sd  high  way  that  leads  from  sd  Oyster  River 
falls  to  Lampereel  River  falls  then  Running  by  sd  last  mentioned 
highway  to  land  in  possession  of  Ichabod  Chesle  then  Running 
by  sd  Chesles  possession  to  land  in  possession  of  Joseph  Wheler 


HISTORY   OF    DURHAM  233 

then  by  sd  Whelers  possession  to  where  we  bagan,  to  be  an  open 
highway  for  the  use  of  the  town  forever."  This  seems  to  be  the 
piece  of  land  in  front  of  the  old  pound,  at  the  intersection  of'the 
roads  coining  from  the  Point  and  from  Newmarket.  [Town 
Book,  Vol.  I,  p.  36.] 

On  petition  of  Miles  Randall  and  others  the  Court  of  General 
Sessions  of  the  peace  ordered  a  highway  to  be  laid  out  in  Durham, 
which  was  done  20  July  1763,  beginning  at  the  "northwest  cor- 
ner of  Joshua  Woodman's  land  by  Col.  Smith's  land  and  run- 
ning by  land  of  John  Langley  to  Lampereel  River  where  the 
bridge  formerly  stood,  over  said  river  to  land  of  Stephen  Pen- 
dergast,  then  past  Samuel  Joy's  land  to  David  Davis's  land, 
thence  to  Major  Thomas  Tash's  land,  thence  to  land  lately  John 
Smart's,  to  pisscassick  mill  priviledge,  then  over  the  bridge  to 
the  dividing  line  between  Newmarket  and  Durham."  [Town 
Book,  Vol.  I,  pp.  57,  58.] 

March  4,  1765,  a  road  two  rods  wide  was  laid  out  from  Joseph 
Stevens'  land  on  the  east  side  of  Johnson's  Creek  unto  Dover 
line,  bounded  on  the  southeast  by  land  of  Nathaniel  Lammos. 

March  13,  1758,  a  road  was  laid  out  from  Wadley's  mill  pond 
in  Lampereel  River  to  Little  River,  in  what  is  now  Lee.  Men- 
tion is  made  of  lands  of  John  Durgin,  Joseph  Durgin,  Edward 
Woodman  and  Ebenezer  Smith. 

At  the  General  Court  convened  11  February  1768,  there  was 
a  petition  for  a  highway  two  rods  wide  from  Lamprey  River 
bridge  to  the  road  leading  from  Durham  Point  to  Durham  Falls. 
Lands  of  the  following  parties  are  mentioned  along  the  route 
proposed,  Joseph  Ham,  Walter  Bryant,  Esq.,  Abraham  Bennet, 
Samuel  Smith,  Joseph  Chesley,  heirs  of  Ebenezer  Smith,  Esq., 
deceased,  John  Smith,  Thomas  Stevenson,  Joseph  Footman, 
Dependance  Bickford,  John  Durgin,  Heirs  of  Ebenezer  Smith, 
to  Mathes  Creek,  so  called,  near  the  mill,  and  over  the  creek 
between  lands  of  the  Hon.  Peter  Livius,  Esq.,  and  John  Kent, 
John  and  Joseph  Drew,  to  road  leading  from  Durham  Point  to 
the  Falls.  This  petition  was  signed  by  David  Davis,  Moses 
Edgerly,  Jr.,  Trueworthy  Durgin,  Jr.,  Stephen  Wille,  Jr., 
Nathaniel  Norton,  George  Bickford,  Valentine  Mathes,  John 
Mead,  Ede  Hall  Burgin,  Zebulon  Doe,  Jr.,  Jonathan  Doe,  Ed- 
ward Smith,  Bradstreet  Doe,  James  Cram,  Thomas  Stevenson, 
Joseph  Drew,  John  Drew,  Joseph  Wormwood,  Jr.,  Dependance 


234  HISTORY   OF    DURHAM 

Bickford,  Francis  Mathes,  John  Edgerly,  John  Smith,  George 
Tuttel,  Timothy  Murray,  and  John  Mundro.  March  7,  1768, 
Capt.  Thomas  Chesley  was  appointed  agent  for  the  town  to  an- 
swer this  petition.  This  road,  or  path,  must  have  been  in  use 
for  more  than  a  century.  It  is  a  hard,  rough  road  now,  much 
of  the  way,  and  it  would  impoverish  the  town  to  fit  it  for  auto- 
mobiles. 

March  24,  1752,  a  road  was  laid  out  from  a  small  pitch  pine 
bush  on  the  north  side  of  the  way  or  path  by  the  Spruce  hole, 


Spruce  Hole 
Near  boundary  of  Lee,  100  feet  deep,  five  acres. 

running  south  southwest  to  the  pitch  of  the  hill  by  James  Hall's 
house,  thence  to  Jethro  Furber's  land,  thence  as  the  way  now 
goes  to  John  Davis'  grist  mill,  then  crossing  the  Little  River 
about  two  rods  above  said  mill  it  runs  southwest  and  by  south 
to  Samuel  Chesley's  line  and  then  on  Chesley's  and  Smith's  lines. 
Laid  out  by  Joseph  Thomas,  Samuel  Smith  and  Joseph  Wheeler, 
Selectmen. 

March  15,  1771,  Ebenezer  Thompson  and  John  Smith,  Select- 
men, laid  out  a  road  at  the  request  of  Joseph  Stevens, 

leading  from  said  Joseph  Stevens  Pasture  to  the  highway  near  Chesleys  Grist 
Mill  in  Durham  as  follows,  Viz.,  Beginning  at  said  Stevens  Pasture  at  a  saplin 
pine  markt  I  on  three  sides  standing  on  land  of  Francis  Mathes  thence  through 
said  Mathes  land  North  nine  degrees  East  Eleven  Rods  to  land  in  Possession 


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236  HISTORY   OF   DURHAM 

of  George  Chesley,  Thence  North  Forty  one  degrees  East  Eleven  Rods  thence 
North  forty  four  degrees  East  Twenty  Rods  thence  North  Eleven  degrees 
East  Eight  Rods  to  a  heap  of  stones,  the  highway  laying  on  the  Eastern  side 
of  the  aforesaid  lines  and  from  thence  to  the  aforesaid  highway  to  Chesleys 
mill  as  the  fence  now  stands  between  the  aforesaid  George  Chesleys  land  and 
land  in  Possession  of  the  heirs  of  Edward  Small  Deceased,  said  fence  to  be 
accounted  the  middle  of  the  highway  and  the  highway  to  be  Two  Rods  wide 
the  whole  length.  Said  highway  being  laid  out  as  near  as  can  be  ascertained 
where  a  highway  was  formerly  laid  out  and  a  return  thereof  entered  on  Dover 
Town  Book  of  Records  Leading  from  Chesleys  mill  to  Second  Falls  on  Lam- 
pray  River."     [Town  Book,  Vol.  I,  p.  532.] 

A  petition,  dated  23  November  1791,  and  signed  by  certain 
inhabitants  of  New  Hampshire,  was  addressed  to  the  General 
Court,  asking  for  a  road  from  Concord  to  Durham.  The  peti- 
tion represents  that  the  roads  from  the  sea  coast   inland   are 


Relics  of  Pascataqca  Bridge 

crooked  and  indirect  and  that  the  trade  would  be  greatly  facili- 
tated by  straightening  the  same;  that  a  road  can  be  built  from 
Durham  Falls  to  Concord  in  thirty  miles,  and  will  save  to  the 
consumer  the  expense  of  forty-five  miles  of  carriage,  all  of  which 
has  been  demonstrated  by  survey  and  plans  already  drawn.  The 
General  Court  appointed  a  committee,  10  December  1791,  with 
full  powers  to  survey  and  establish  a  road  from  Concord  to  Dur- 
ham Falls  and  to  Newmarket  Bridge.  This  first  New  Hamp- 
shire Turnpike  was  followed  by  fifty-two  more  in  the  state  before 
the  year  1812.  After  a  time  most  of  them  failed  to  yield  revenues 
and  their  charters  were  surrendered.  Others  were  dissolved 
under  a  legislative  act  of  1838,  which  gave  the  towns  the  right 
to  convert  a  turnpike  into  a  highway  upon  appraisal  and  pay- 
ment of  damages. 

In  the  laying  out  of  this  Turnpike  mention  is  make  that  it 
"joins  the  now  road  at  the  end  of  a  causeway  near  John  Thomp- 
sons" and  goes  on  to  "the  road  leading  to  the  Lee  meeting  house, 
thence  leaving  Lee  road."  Damages  were  allowed  to  Jonathan 
Warner,  Col.  Stephen  Evans  and  John  Thompson.     The  report 


HISTORY    OF   DURHAM 


237 


was  signed   16  June  1792,  and  accepted   by  General   Court  21 
June  of  the  same  year. 

This  Turnpike  was  continued  on  the  north  side  of  the  river, 
to  Meader's  Neck,  after  the  construction  of  Pascataqua  bridge 
in  1794.  This  bridge  was  2,362  feet  long  and  38  feet  wide,  built 
from  Fox  Point  in  Newington  to  Rock  Island,  thence  to  Goat 
Island  by  an  arch  of  240  feet,  thence  to  Meader's  Xeck  or  Tickle 
Point,  where  there  was  a  toll  gate.     The  architect  was  Timothy 


Boston  &  Maine  Railroad  Station.   Durham 
Erected  1 9 1 1 

Palmer  of  Newburyport,  Mass.  There  was  a  draw  for  the  pas- 
sage of  vessels.  A  sketch  of  it  was  made  by  Robert  Gilmor  of 
Baltimore  in  1797.  The  original  cost  of  this  bridge  was  S05,- 
947.34  and  it  was  sold  half  a  century  later  for  $2,000.  It  gave 
way  in  1830  and  again  in  1854,  and  600  feet  of  it,  on  the  New- 
ington side,  was  carried  away  by  ice,  18  February  1855.  It  was 
not  rebuilt.  The  construction  of  the  railroad  turned  the  course 
of  travel.  The  vicinity  of  the  Durham  terminus  is  still  known 
as  Pascataqua  Bridge,  and  the  school  district  here  is  known  by 
the  same  name.  For  more  minute  description  of  this  bridge  see 
Miss  Thompson's  Landmarks  in  Ancient  Dover. 


238  HISTORY    OF   DURHAM 

As  early  as  1792  a  stage  was  run  through  Durham  to  Boston 
from  Dover  but  was  discontinued  through  lack  of  patronage. 
Twenty  years  later  two  lines  of  stage  were  started  from  Dover 
to  Boston,  one  running  by  the  way  of  Haverhill  and  the  other 
through  Newburyport.  They  continued  to  run  till  1841,  when 
the  Boston  and  Maine  Railroad  Company  opened  its  line  from 
Exeter  to  Dover. 

The  road  from  the  Falls  to  Madbury  formerly  led  around 
through  Bagdad,  where  Dea.  W.  S.  Meserve  now  lives.  It  was 
straightened  early  in  the  nineteenth  century,  so  as  to  pass  di- 
rectly by  the  Judge  Thompson  house.  March  12,  181 1,  it  was 
voted  in  town  meeting  that  the  selectmen  let  the  building  of  this 
road  to  the  lowest  bidder,  although  for  two  years  the  building  of 
it  had  been  opposed. 

The  ferries  from  Fox  Point  in  Newington  to  Meader's  Neck 
and  to  Oyster  River  Point,  the  latter  called  Bickford's  Ferry, 
Furber's  Ferry  from  Furber's  Point  in  Newington  to  Mathes 
Neck  and  to  Durgin's  farm  on  the  west  side  of  the  mouth  of  Crom- 
mett's  Creek,  the  ferry  across  Lamprey  River,  etc.,  have  been 
repeatedly  and  sufficiently  mentioned  in  this  book  and  in  the 
Landmarks  in  Ancient  Dover. 


BURIAL  PLACES 

The  oldest  graveyard  of  which  we  have  any  knowledge  was 
near  the  meeting  house,  built  in  1656,  on  the  south  side  of  Oyster 
River,  in  the  vicinity  of  the  oyster  bed.  The  site  was  sold  with  the 
parsonage  lands  to  Daniel  and  Robert  Mathes,  13  April  1837,  and 
no  reservation  of  the  burial  ground  was  made.  All  traces  of  the 
old  meeting  house,  the  parsonage  and  the  graveyard  have  dis- 
appeared, except  that  near  the  river  may  be  seen  some  flat, 
oblong  pieces  of  rough  granite,  scattered  about,  that  may  have 
marked  the  resting  places  of  some  of  the  first  settlers  in  this 
vicinity.  It  is  believed  that  careful  investigation,  with  the  use 
of  the  spade,  would  reveal  this  earliest  cemetery. 

Only  a  few  families,  however,  availed  themselves  of  this 
resting  place  for  their  dead.  On  nearly  every  original  farm  may 
be  found  a  sacred  spot,  marked  with  granite,  unlettered  stones 
and  low  mounds.  The  new  owners  of  the  old  farms  have  some- 
times respected  such  spots,  and  sometimes  they  have  not.  The 
dead  were  buried  near  the  garrisons  or  private  houses,  where 
the  graves  of  loved  ones  could  be  seen  and  cared  for  every  day. 
Nobody  knew  how  to  polish  and  chisel  granite,  and  slate  head- 
stones were  expensive  and  hard  to  be  obtained  at  any  price. 
A  mound  and  two  roughly  split  stones  were  the  usual  memorials, 
and  doubtless,  while  relatives  survived,  flowers  grew  and  faded 
on  those  little,  mounds.  Even  to  this  day  new  residents  some- 
times place  a  handful  of  flowers  upon  graves  of  the  unknown. 
,Qught  not  the  many  prosperous  descendants  of  the  first  settlers 
to  fence  and  properly  mark  the  resting  places  of  their  ancestors? 
This  has  been  well  done  in  several  instances. 

On  the  north  side  of  Oyster  River,  and  near  its  mouth,  several 
generations  of  the  Meader  family  lived,  died  and  were  buried, 
on  land  now  owned  by  Edward  L.  Emerson.  Other  portions  of 
the  Meader  farm  are  owned  by  Elisha  R.  Brown,  Stephen  P. 
Chesley  and  others.  Tradition  says  that  six  or  seven  persons 
from  Durham  Point,  on  their  way  to  the  boat  from  a  religious 
meeting  held  at  the  garrison  house  of  Col.  James  Davis,  were 
waylaid  and  slain  by  Indians  on  the  Meader  land,  just  below 

239 


24O  HISTORY   OF    DURHAM 

Davis'  Creek.  Their  bodies  were  discovered  a  few  days  later 
and  buried  where  they  lay.    Their  graves  can  still  be  pointed  out. 

On  the  other  side  of  the  Turnpike  road,  on  the  Odiorne  farm, 
now  owned  by  David  XV.  Watson,  are  the  graves  of  the  Odiorne 
family. 

On  the  Emerson  farm,  a  little  further  up  the  river,  are  the 
graves  of  the  early  Knight  family. 

Above  Davis'  Creek,  in  the  field  overlooked  by  the  site  of  the 
garrison,  were  buried  the  families  of  Ensign  John  Davis  and  of 
his  distinguished  son,  Col.  James  Davis. 

Still  further  up  the  river  are  the  graves  of  Joseph  Smith  and 
many  descendants.  His  headstone  states  that  he  was  the  first 
European  to  till  the  soil  where  he  is  buried.  This  burial  lot  has 
a  split  stone  wall  around  it,  and  the  present  owner  of  the  farm, 
Forrest  S.  Smith,  keeps  the  place  in  admirable  condition.  Near 
by  are  the  graves  of  Col.  Gilmore's  family. 

Crossing  Bunker's  Creek  we  see  the  remains  of  the  old  Bunker 
garrison,  on  the  hill  north  of  the  highway.  Near  by  is  the  house 
sold  by  Fred  M.  Bunker  to  Clarence  Fowler  a  few  years  ago, 
near  which  are  some  of  the  Bunker  graves,  but  the  oldest  Bunker 
graves  are  in  the  field  across  the  highway  and  near  the  river. 
The  field  is  now  owned  by  Mrs.  Joseph  Smith.  Here  were  buried 
James  Bunker,  the  emigrant,  Benjamin  Bunker  who  took  part 
in  the  siege  of  Louisburg,  and  others. 

On  the  farm  owned  by  Clarence  Fowler,  across  the  road  from 
his  house,  are  the  graves  of  some  of  the  Twombly  family,  once 
resident  on  this  farm. 

There  are  Ransom  graves  on  the  farm  of  Friend  Pinkham. 

Passing  up  the  highway,  or  Turnpike  as  it  is  called,  and  crossing 
Jones'  Creek  we  come  to  the  land  first  owned  by  Stephen  Jones 
about  1663.  Down  to  the  present  generation  the  Jones  family 
have  been  buried  on  a  high  knoll,  in  sight  from  the  Turnpike. 
A  massive  stone  wall  has  been  built  around  a  spacious  burial 
lot.  It  ought  to  stand  for  centuries.  It  is  the  best  built  burial 
enclosure  to  be  found  in  this  section  of  the  country. 

On  the  south  side  of  the  Turnpike  is  the  farm  of  the  late 
John  T.  Emerson,  at  one  time  owned  by  the  Leathers  family. 
Near  the  river  is  the  Emerson  tomb.  On  another  farm  near  by, 
owned  by  the  heirs  of  the  late  George  P.  Emerson,  are  more 
Emerson  graves. 


HISTORY   OF   DURHAM  24 1 

On  the  north  side  of  the  Turnpike,  west  of  the  Jones  farm,  on 
land  now  owned  by  the  heirs  of  the  late  William  P.  Ffrost, 
formerly  the  town  farm,  and  before  that  owned  by  the  Chesley 
family,  is  the  old  Chesley  burial  place,  where  Philip  Chesley, 
the  emigrant,  Col.  Samuel  Chesley  and  many  others  of  the  Chesley 
family  were  buried.  A  later  Chesley  burial  ground  is  fenced 
about  in  the  open  field.  Near  by,  on  land  owned  by  Samuel 
Kidder,  are  Foss  graves. 

On  the  George  B.  Palmer  farm,  formerly  the  Jackson  farm, 
are  Jackson  graves,  which  were  near  the  barn,  but  not  visible 
at  the  present  time,  as  the  plow  has  removed  all  traces  of  the 
graves  within  a  few  years. 

Near  the  point  of  intersection  of  the  Dover  road  with  the 
Turnpike  road  is  the  Coe  burial  lot,  where  Joseph  Coe,  ship- 
builder, son  of  the  Rev.  Curtis  Coe,  is  buried. 

Passing  over  the  creek  near  the  Coe  farm  we  come  to  the  farm 
of  the  late  Dea.  Albert  Young,  and  here  are  buried  his  father's 
family  and  also  his  Chesley  ancestors,  descendants  of  George 
Chesley.  Here  also  lies  Charles  S.  Davis,  a  soldier  of  the  Civil 
War,  the  father  of  Walter  S.  Davis,  who  lives  in  this  neighbor- 
hood. There  are  graves  on  the  land  owned  by  the  heirs  of  the 
late  Samuel  Runlett. 

Durham  has  no  public  cemetery.  The  nearest  approach  to 
it  is  the  graveyard  near  the  village  school  house.  March  24, 
1796,  Jonathan  Woodman,  Jr.,  of  Durham  sold  one  acre  of 
land  near  Durham  Falls  "for  the  sole  and  exclusive  use  and 
purpose  of  a  burying  place  of  them  and  their  several  posterities 
forever  to  Ebenezer  Smith,  Jonathan  Steele  and  Ebenezer  Thomp- 
son Junr,  esquires,  Joseph  Richardson,  James  Durgin  and  Jacob 
Woodman,  gentlemen,  John  Blydenburgh,  Benjamin  Thomp- 
son, Robert  Lapish  and  William  Ballard,  traders,  John  Angicr, 
physician,  Noah  Jewett,  joiner,  James  Leigh  ton,  tailor,  Joshua 
Ballard,  hatter,  John  Stevenson,  cordwainer,  Curtis  Coe,  clerk, 
Thomas  Pinkham,  hatter,  Samuel  Yeaton,  Cooper,  and  John 
Langley,  blacksmith,  all  of  Durham."  There  is  little  space  left 
in  this  graveyard  for  burials.  The  Rev.  Federal  Burt  and  wife- 
are  buried  here,  also  Dea.  Abraham  Perkins  and  wife,  and 
families  of  men  above  mentioned. 

The  New  Hampshire  College  has  a  residence  for  its  president, 
built  upon  the  site  of  a  former  house  erected  by  Lieut.  Benjamin 

16 


242  HISTORY    OF   DURHAM 

Chesley,  born  24  January  1743.  He  is  buried  across  the  Turn- 
pike in  the  field  that  the  College  bought  of  the  heirs  of  the  late 
John  McDaniel.  On  the  college  farm,  on  land  formerly  owned 
by  John  W.  Emerson,  are  more  graves. 

Near  the  village  on  the  Mill  Road,  lie  the  bodies  of  Moses 
Davis  and  his  son,  killed  by  Indians,  10  June  1724.  His  negro 
slave  avenged  his  death  by  killing  one  of  the  leaders,  a  son  of 
Baron  de  St.  Castine.  Love  Davis,  daughter  of  Moses,  in  view 
of  the  slave's  fidelity  gave  orders  that  he  should  be  buried  at 
her  feet.  This  was  done  and  their  graves  may  still  be  pointed  out. 
Further  from  the  village,  on  same  farm,  were  buried  the  parents 
of  Love  Davis  and  there  is  a  stone  marked  "Aaron." 

Near  the  residence  of  Lucien  Thompson  is  the  Thompson 
burial  ground,  where  are  buried  many  generation,  including 
John  Thompson,  Sr.,  Robert  aad  Judge  Ebenezer. 

On  the  next  farm  are  buried  Capt.  John  Woodman,  builder 
of  the  old  Woodman  garrison,  as  well  as  his  descendant,  John 
Smith  Woodman,  a  noted  professor  at  Dartmouth  College. 
This  burial  place,  often  called  the  Indian  burying  ground,  per- 
haps because  it  was  once  used  by  the  Indians  as  a  place  of  bury- 
ing their  dead,  is  cared  for  by  a  trust  fund  held  by  the  town  of 
Durham.    The  Woodman  monument  is  a  conspicuous  object. 

Near  the  Woodman  garrison  was  the  Huckins  garrison,  and 
in  sight,  August,  1689,  eighteen  persons  were  massacred  by  the 
Indians. 

On  the  college  farm,  near  the  railroad  station,  on  land  bought 
of  J.  W.  E.  Thompson,  are  graves  of  the  early  Hill  family.  They 
are  unmarked,  on  the  brow  of  the  hill,  among  the  oak  trees 
close  to  the  road.  Close  by,  on  land  formerly  owned  by  a 
daughter  of  Timothy  Hussey,  are  some  graves  of  the  Joseph 
White  family.  North  of  the  road  and  westerly  of  the  college 
farm,  on  land  owned  by  Miss  Martha  A.  Stevens,  are  Stevens 
graves.  Among  those  buried  here  are  two  of  her  brothers,  who 
served  as  soldiers  in  the  Civil  War,  Samuel  Stevens  and  James 
M.  Stevens. 

In  the  rear  of  the  George  Mathes  place  is  a  burial  ground, 
where  Lemuel  Woodman  and  family  are  buried. 

Not  far  from  the  Oyster  River  boundary  line,  in  the  woods, 
lies  buried  Eli  Demeritt,  the  emigrant  from  the  Isle  of  Jersey. 
Capt.  Samuel  Demeritt,  his  grandson,  settled  on  land  granted 


HISTORY    OF   DURHAM  243 

to  his  grandfather  before  1700  and  left  parts  of  his  homestead 
to  his  sons,  Nathaniel  and  Israel.  On  each  of  these  farms  are 
Demeritt  burial  places. 

Close  to  the  Madbury  line,  on  the  farm  owned  by  Edward 
Pendexter,  are  the  graves  of  the  Pendexter  and  Joy  families. 
On  another  part  of  the  same  farm  are  Marden  graves.  There 
are  Woodman  graves  on  the  Moses  G.  Woodman  farm.  On 
land  owned  by  Ira  B.  Hill  are  Indian  graves  mentioned  4th 
of  9th  month,  1652,  and  also  Chesley  graves.  Nearer  Munsey's 
bridge,  on  land  owned  by  the  first  Munsey  of  Durham,  are 
graves  of  that  family. 

On  the  farm  owned  by  George  G.  Hoitt,  formerly  the  farm  of 
the  late  Demeritt  McDaniel,  is  the  McDaniel  tomb,  where  are 
the  remains  of  at  least  two  generations  of  the  McDaniel  family. 

There  is  an  old  burial  ground  nearly  opposite  the  residence  of 
Leonard  B.  Bunker,  on  the  Mast  Road  leading  toward  Lee, 
where  are  numerous  graves,  unmarked,  belonging  to  the  Thomp- 
son family. 

In  this  vicinity,  over  the  line  in  Lee,  is  a  large  cemetery  where 
many  of  the  Durham  people  are  buried.  Passing  by  the  resi- 
dence of  George  E.  Chesley  in  Lee  towards  Packer's  Falls,  we 
go  by  the  Corson  place,  where  the  Cor  sons  are  buried.  Then 
we  reach  the  David  Wiggin  place,  and  back  from  the  road  in 
the  woods  are  Wiggin  graves. 

Across  the  road,  on  the  Hilliard  F.  Fogg  farm,  are  two  burial 

places,  one  of  which  contains  the  remains  of  the  Stevenson  family. 

Next  is  the  Griffiths  farm,  on  which  are  the  Meader  and  the 

Griffiths  burial  places.    On  the  George  Dame  farm  is  the  Dame 

place  of  sepulture. 

In  this  section  are  the  burial  place  and  tomb  of  the  descendants 
of  the  late  Dea.  Samuel  Hayes.  In  this  tomb  are  also  relatives 
by  the  names  of  Bennett  and  Young.  The  Hayes  place  is  now 
owned  by  the  Morse  family,  and  the  granddaughter  of  Dea. 
Hayes,  Miss  Alice  Hayes  of  Cambridge,  Mass.,  has  filed  with 
the  town  clerk  a  list  of  those  whose  bodies  are  in  this  tomb. 
A  trust  fund  has  been  left  to  the  town,  the  interest  of  which 
is  to  be  used  in  caring  for  this  burial  place. 

On  the  farm  owned  by  Albert  Brown,  formerly  known  as  the 
Young  place,  are  graves  of  the  Young  family. 


244  HISTORY   OF   DURHAM 

On  the  Pendergast  garrison  farm,  now  owned  by  John  H. 
Scott,  the  Pendergast  family  lie  buried. 

On  the  farm  owned  by  H.  H.  Dame,  formerly  the  Joseph  R. 
Chesley  place,  are  Chesley  graves,  and  in  this  place  George 
Chesley  was  killed  by  lightning,  12  June  1878. 

On  the  Joy  farm,  now  owned  by  Mr.  John  Gooch,  is  the  Joy 
cemetery,  well  cared  for,  in  which  are  buried  the  Joy  family, 
one  of  whom  was  Dea.  Samuel  Joy.  Here  also  is  the  $3,000 
monument  in  memory  of  David  F.  Griffiths  and  his  wife,  Sarah 
E.  Griffiths.  Mrs.  Griffiths  gave  a  trust  fund  to  the  town  to 
insure  the  care  of  this  monument. 

On  the  Eben  M.  Davis  farm,  near  the  Newmarket  line,  once 
stood  the  David  Davis  garrison,  and  on  this  farm  four  or  five 
generations  of  the  Davis  family  have  lived  and  died  and  been 
buried. 

On  the  Daniel  T.  Woodman  farm  are  three  burial  places,  the 
oldest  of  which  is  the  Pitman,  then  the  Moses  Wiggin,  then  the 
Woodman.  There  are  graves  on  a  farm  in  this  vicinity  owned  by 
Joseph  Bascom. 

On  the  farm  now  owned  by  Herbert  Tuttle  and  formerly 
onwed  by  the  Bennett  family  are  the  Bennett  graves.  Here 
lies  Capt.  Eleazer  Bennett,  who  was  one  of  the  party  that  cap- 
tured the  gunpowder  at  Fort  William  and  Mary  in  December 
1774.    On  the  George  Dame  place  are  graves  of  the  Dame  family. 

On  the  Ezra  Parsons  farm,  formerly  the  Clough  farm,  are 
Clough  graves.  There  are  Bickford  graves  on  the  farm  owned 
by  Roscoe  Otis.  On  the  Newmarket  road  leading  toward  Dur- 
ham village,  near  the  residence  formerly  of  Lester  Ladderbush, 
is  the  Mooney  burial  place,  enclosed  by  a  stone  wall.  Here  are 
buried  descendants  of  Col.  Hercules  Mooney.  Cogans  are  buried 
on  the  Levi  Davis  farm,  now  owned  by  Frank  E.  Doe. 

In  Lubberland,  on  the  farm  of  Peter  Smith,  are  Chesley  graves, 
and  the  garrison  built  by  Joseph  Chesley  about  1707  was  located 
in  this  vicinity. 

On  the  farm  owned  by  Frank  Emerson,  at  Lubberland,  are 
graves  of  the  Drew  family,  among  which  is  that  of  Nicholas 
Drew.  On  the  old  Smith  farm  are  buried  Judge  Valentine 
Smith  and  his  ancestors. 

On  the  farm  owned  by  John  B.  G.  Dame  are  the  graves  of 
the  Dame  family  and  also  of  the  Bickford  family,  the  remains 


HISTORY    OF   DURHAM  245 

of  some  of  the  Bickford  family  having  been  taken  up  near  the 
residence  of  Hon.  Jeremiah  Langley  and  reinterred  here. 

On  the  farm  of  Joseph  M.  R.  Adams,  formerly  known  as 
Mathes  Neck,  is  the  Adams  tomb,  where  lie  the  remains  of 
Rev.  John  Adams,  known  as  "  Reformation  John  Adams. " 

On  the  Eben  Kent  farm  are  buried  eight  generations  of  the 
descendants  of  Oliver  Kent.  On  the  next  farm  north,  formerly 
that  of  Thomas  Drew,  lie  buried  Thomas  and  his  wife,  Tamsen, 
and  many  of  their  descendants,  in  the  middle  of  the  field,  west 
of  a  little  gully. 

On  the  Rollins  farm,  commonly  called  the  Clark  Mathes  farm, 
are  buried  many  of  the  Fernald  family  who  once  lived  here. 

On  the  farm  owned  by  James  D.  Meader  are  some  old  graves 
unmarked  by  headstones,  whence  some  bodies  of  the  Edgerly 
family  were  removed. 

At  Durham  Point,  on  the  farm  owned  by  Hon.  Jeremiah 
Langley,  down  in  the  pasture  back  of  an  old  Bickford  cellar,  are 
the  graves  of  the  Bickford  family. 

The  Mathes  cemetery,  at  the  Point,  is  the  burial  place  of  many 
generations  of  that  family.  It  is  well  fenced  and  cared  for. 
Near  by  is  the  mound  where  the  family  of  Charles  Adams,  all 
massacred  by  the  Indians  in  1694,  are  buried. 

The  graves  of  "Deacon  Langley  and  Mary  his  godly  wife," 
as  the  record  of  the  Rev.  Hugh  Adams  has  it,  are  said  to  be  on 
the  old  Langley  farm,  earlier  that  of  William  Drew.  On  the 
Stevenson  place,  next  west,  and  in  the  middle  of  a  field  are 
indications  of  early  graves. 

On  the  Clarence  Smart  farm,  once  owned  by  Abijah  Pink- 
ham,  at  least  a  part  of  it,  is  a  burial  place  overgrown  with  bushes. 
The  marble  headstones  have  all  fallen,  but  the  inscriptions  can 
be  read.  Here  lie  the  remains  of  Abijah  Pinkham  and  some  of 
his  family.  This  is  about  half  way  between  the  Falls  and  the 
Point,  and  not  far  from  the  road. 

The  Burnham  cemetery  is  situated  in  the  field  of  the  old 
Burnham  farm,  between  the  river  and  the  hill  on  which  the 
garrison  of  Ambrose  Gibbons  was  built.  It  is  well  fenced.  There 
are  a  dozen  graves  with  granite  headstones.  Here  also  are  buried 
Samuel  Pickering,  who  died  15  July  1856,  aged  55,  and  Simeon 
Pickering,  who  died  1854,  aged  80  years,  3  months. 

On  the  hill  back  of  the  Sullivan  house  is  an  old  burial  place, 


246  HISTORY   OF    DURHAM 

which  has  recently  been  cleared  up  and  well  walled.  The  oldest 
inscription  here  is  that  of  Phebe  Adams,  wife  of  Dr.  Samuel 
Adams,  showing  simply  that  she  died  in  1743.  A  row  of  low 
mounds  indicates  that  probably  her  husband  and  his  father 
and  mother,  the  Rev.  Hugh  Adams  and  wife,  Susannah,  are 
buried  here.  They  ought  to  have  suitable  memorial  stones,  for 
in  spite  of  his  eccentricities  the  Rev.  Hugh  Adams  and  his  son, 
Dr.  Samuel,  did  many  good  deeds  for  Durham.  This  place 
is  also  honored  as  the  resting  place  of  Maj.  Gen.  John  Sullivan 
and  family,  and  Judge  Jonathan  Steele. 

A  few  rods  distant  is  the  Simpson  graveyard,  where  the  old 
sea  captain  and  his  wife  lie  buried,  who  left  their  property  of 
$18,000  to  the  church  in  Durham  and  the  Durham  Library  Asso- 
ciation, and  a  small  legacy  to  the  town,  the  interest  of  which  is 
to  be  used  in  caring  for  these  graves. 

The  Lapish  family  and  the  Drew  family  are  buried  on  the 
farm  now  owned  by  the  Ffrost  family.  Here  in  an  unmarked 
grave  lies  the  body  of  James  Britton,  a  soldier  in  the  Civil  War 
in  both  army  and  navy.  Close  by  are  many  rough  granite 
headstones  that  indicate  the  graves  of  early  members  of  the 
Smith  family,  for  James  Smith  and  his  descendants  owned  this 
farm  many  years. 

Above  the  tidal  part  of  the  river,  on  a  sightly  knoll,  lies  buried 
the  late  Hamilton  Smith,  Durham's  only  millionaire.  His 
widow  erected  a  costly  stone  chapel,  in  which  services  are  some- 
times conducted  in  memory  of  him  and  his  wife,  for  whom  the 
citizens  of  Durham  had  the  greatest  respect. 

On  the  Olinthus  Doe  farm,  near  the  moat,  now  owned  by  the 
town  of  Durham  are  at  least  four  generations  of  the  Doe  family. 

On  the  Leonard  Bunker  farm,  on  the  Mast  Road,  are  the 
graves  of  Ichabod  Chesley's  family.  On  the  Coe  place,  between 
the  turnpike  and  Bucks  hill,  in  the  pasture,  are  probably  the 
graves  of  Jonathan  Chesley's  family,  as  he  owned  this  place, 
and  there  are  graves  of  the  family  of  Ezekiel  Leathers. 

On  the  Walker  farm,  close  to  Beech  hill,  owned  by  the  late 
Albert  DeMeritt,  are  the  graves  of  the  family  of  Joshua  Chesley. 

Near  the  Huckins  graves,  on  the  farm  of  Dea.  W.  S.  Meserve, 
are  buried  four  generations  of  Capt,  Samuel  Emerson's  family. 
In  another  spot  on  same  farm  are  the  graves  of  four  slaves. 

Money  has  been  bequeathed  to  the  town,  only  the  interest  of 


HISTORY   OF   DURHAM  247 

which  can  be  used,  to  insure  perpetual  care  of  the  Woodman, 
Simpson,  Griffiths,  Wilson,  Furness,  and  Hayes  cemeteries  and 
graves.  All  families  having  ancestors  buried  in  the  town  would 
show  love  and  respect,  if  they  would  give  or  bequeath  money 
to  the  town  for  a  like  purpose. 


SLAVERY 

The  first  African  slaves  in  America  were  brought  by  Dutch 
ships  in  1619  and  sold  to  Virginian  planters.  At  that  time 
slavery  was  quite  common  in  old  England,  and  the  American 
colonies  followed  the  old  custom.  No  law  was  necessary  to 
legalize  the  traffic  in  slaves  nor  the  custom  of  holding  them. 
Slavery  had  been  a  concomitant  of  war  from  time  immemorial. 
Hence  Indians  taken  in  war  were  held  as  slaves  and  sold  into 
slavery.  A  large  number  of  those  captured  in  the  sham  fight 
at  Dover,  managed  by  Maj.  William  Waldron  and  Maj.  Charles 
Frost,  were  sold  as  slaves  in  the  West  Indies. 

Slavery  was  not  profitable  in  the  northern  states,  and  most  of 
the  slaves  were  house  servants.  In  1767  there  were  in  Ports- 
mouth one  hundred  and  twenty-four  male  and  sixty-three  female 
slaves,  probably  more  than  in  any  other  part  of  New  Hampshire. 
As  early  as  1649  William  Hilton  sold  to  George  Carr  an  Indian 
slave  named  James,  and  the  bill  of  sale  is  on  record.  In  1767 
there  were  633  slaves  in  New  Hampshire  and  in  1775  there 
were  657.  The  Revolution  virtually  put  an  end  to  slavery  in 
the  North.  In  1790  the  census  shows  only  158  in  New  Hamp- 
shire, and  these  were  old  servants  held  and  maintained  out  of 
kindness,  for  in  1800  the  census  shows  only  eight  in  New  Hamp- 
shire. In  1840  one  is  reported.  Durham  reported  only  three 
slaves  in  1790,  belonging  to  Samuel  Burnham,  Timothy  Emerson 
and  Stephen  Jones.  Lee  and  Madbury  did  not  report  any 
slaves,  though  there  were  free  colored  persons  living  there.  No 
emancipation  law  was  ever  passed  by  New  Hampshire,  though 
an  act  in  1789  seems  to  show  the  intention  of  legislators  to  regard 
slavery  as  a  dead  letter. 

Among  the  earliest  slave  owners  at  Oyster  River  was  William 
Drew,  in  the  administration  of  whose  estate,  1669,  mention  is 
made  of  a  man  servant  and  a  maid  servant.  The  will  of  Nicholas 
Follett,  1700,  mentions  "my  Negroe  Man  Caezer." 

The  Rev.  Hugh  Adams  records  among  his  baptisms  the  fol- 
lowing, 17  December  1719 :  "At  a  lecture  at  Loverland,  on 
account  of  her  faith  and  engagement  for  its  education,  our 
sister  Sarah  Bennick,  having  an  infant  maid  servant  born  in 

249 


250  HISTORY    OF    DURHAM 

her  house  of  a  Negro  father  and  Indian  mother,  had  her  baptized 
Mary  Robinson."  And  again,  5  January  1723/4,  he  records, 
"Then  at  our  house,  Simon  Teko,  Indian  man  servant,  owning 
his  Baptismal  Covenant,  I  baptized  our  Indian  woman  servant 
Maria,  and  their  Infant  born  in  our  house,  Scipio,"  and  June  23 
1728,  "Phillis,  our  servant  child,  born  in  my  house  of  Maria, 
our  Indian  Woman  Servant."  He  baptized,  30  August  1724, 
"Peter,  the  Negro  servant  of  Peter  and  Sarah  Mason"  and  5 
March  1726/7,  "Caesar  Sanders,  Free  Negro." 

The  inventory  of  the  estate  of  the  Rev.  Nicholas  Gilman, 
1748,  names  Peter,  a  negro  man,  valued  at  £150. 

The  Rev.  John  Adams  recorded  the  marriage  of  Belmont 
and  Venus,  1  January  1760.  Their  surname  was  Barhew  and 
they  are  said  to  have  been  brought  from  Africa  and  belonged 
to  Jeremiah  Burnham.  The  Rev.  Curtis  Coe  recorded  the 
burial  of  Venus,  November  1783.  The  Barhew  family  lived 
on  a  part  of  the  Burnham  farm  called  Nigger  Point-  They  had 
seven  children,  Aenon,  Caesar,  Jubal,  Titus,  Peter,  Candace,  and 
another  daughter.  Aenon,  when  only  four  years  old,  was 
bought  for  $100  by  Col.  Timothy  Emerson,  brother  of  Mrs. 
Jeremiah  Burnham,  and  became  free  after  the  Revolution.  He 
died  16  December  1827  and  was  buried,  with  other  slaves  owned 
by  the  Emerson  family,  near  the  residence  of  Dea.  Winthrop 
S.  Meserve.  Caesar  was  noted  for  his  singing  at  prayer  meet- 
ings. He  was  acquired  by  Vowel  Leathers,  and  died  in  New- 
market after  having  obtained  his  freedom.  [See  Landmarks  of 
Ancient  Dover,  p.  162.] 

The  following  bill  of  sale  may  be  of  interest  and  further  follows 
the  fortunes  of  the  Barhew  family: 

Know  all  men  by  these  presents  that  I  Jeremish  Burnum  Junr  of  Durham 
in  the  County  of  Strafford  and  State  of  New  Hampshire,  yeoman,  for  and  in 
Consideration  of  the  sum  of  thirty  pounds  rightful  money  to  me  in  hand 
before  the  delivery  hereof  well  and  truly  paid  by  my  daughter  Elizabeth 
Burnam  of  said  Town,  single  woman  and  Spinster,  the  receipt  whereof  I 
do  hereby  acknowledge,  have  given,  granted,  bargained  and  sold  and  by  these 
presents  do  give,  grant,  bargain  and  sell  unto  my  said  Daughter  Elizabeth, 
my  Negro  boy  named  Jabal  now  about  Seven  Years  old. 

To  have  and  to  hold  the  said  Negro  to  her  the  sd  Elizabeth,  her  heirs  or 
assigns,  to  her  or  their  only  proper  use  and  benefit  during  the  term  of  his 


HISTORY    OF   DURHAM  25 1 

natural  life.     In  witness  whereof  I  have  hereunto  set  my  hand  and  seal  this 
29th  day  of  June  A.D.  1778. 

Jeremiah  Burnum  JuN'. 
Signed,  Sealed  &  deld 

in  presence  of 
John  Smith 
James  Smith. 

Jabal  or  Jubal  was  afterward  acquired  by  Capt.  Smith  Emer- 
son. Candace,  his  sister,  was  given  to  Elizabeth  Burnham  at 
the  time  of  her  marriage,  and  Peter,  the  youngest,  remained 
with  the  Burnham  family.  His  sleeping  place,  called  Pete's 
hole,  could  be  seen  in  the  ruins  of  the  old  Burnham  mansion. 

Robert  Thompson  was  the  owner  of  several  slaves,  three  of 
whom  are  mentioned  in  the  settlement  of  his  estate,  1752,  viz., 
John  Battles  valued  at  £350,  Page  £120,  and  Nan  £350.  The 
wife  of  Robert  Thompson  in  her  will  gave  to  her  brother,  Solo- 
mon Emerson,  her  negro  woman,  Dinah. 

A  negro  servant  of  Solomon  Emerson,  named  George,  about 
to  go  to  war,  made  his  will,  5  June  1777,  giving  property  to  wife, 
Phillis.  A  negro  slave  named  Sidon  is  mentioned  in  the  inven- 
tory of  Samuel  Thompson,  1755. 

The  inventory  of  the  estate  of  Capt.  Samuel  Emerson,  1743, 
shows  the  appraisal  of  one  man  negro  at  £55,  one  woman  negro 
at  £80  and  one  young  man  negro  at  £130. 

The  inventory  of  Capt.  Samuel  Demeritt,  1770,  shows  that 
he  owned  a  negro  named  Prince. 

A  negro  man,  Peter,  belonging  to  Hon.  George  Frost  was 
buried  16  July  1785,  according  to  record  of  the  Rev.  Curtis  Coe. 

Judge  Valentine  Smith  used  to  mention  a  female  slave  named 
Phillis,  who  took  excellent  care  of  his  mother,  Lydia  Millett 
Smith,  in  her  sickness.  The  slave  was  buried  in  the  family 
burial  grounds  at  Lubberland. 

CoL_Thomas  Tash  had  a  slave  named  Oxford  Tash,  who 
died  14  October  1S10,  aged  sixty.  He  fought  in  the  Revo- 
lutionary War  and  was  wounded  in  action.  He  refused  a  pension 
so  long  as  he  could  support  himself. 

A  slave  of  Capt.  Nathaniel  Randall  served  in  Capt.  Thomas 
Tash's  company  in  1758.  His  name  is  enrolled  as  "Cesar 
Durham,  negro,  by  the  consent  of  his  master  Nathaniel  Randal, 
enlisted  April  29,  1758,  age  45."     Another  negro  served  in  the 


252  HISTORY    OF   DURHAM 

same  company  and  is  enrolled  as  "Sippo  Negro  Servant  to 
Doctor  Joseph  Atkinson,  enlisted  April  8,  1758,  age  26." 

Peter  Adams,  negro,  served  in  the  Revolution,  1777,  from 
Durham,  perhaps  slave  or  servant  of  the  Rev.  John  Adams,, 
perhaps  belonging  to  Lieut. -Col.  Winborn  Adams. 

Robert  Lapish  of  Durham,  in  1777,  bought  of  Jacob  Sheafe 
of  Portsmouth  a  negro  slave  named  Joseph,  aged  about  37  years. 

Gen.  John  Sullivan  had  his  slaves  and  special  quarters  for 
them  erected  in  the  rear  of  his  house.  They  often  rowed  him 
down  the  river  thirteen  miles  to  Portsmouth.  One  was  named 
Noble. 

The  following  exact  copy  of  a  liberation  paper  will  be  of  interest : 

Know  all  men  by  these  presents  that  I,  John  Woodman,  of  Durham  in 
the  county  of  Strafford  and  State  of  New  Hampshire,  yeoman,  for  and  in 
consideration  of  the  sum  of  sixty  pounds  lawful  money  to  me  in  hand  paid 
before  the  delivery  hereof  by  my  negro  man  Dan,  a  servant  for  life,  about 
twenty-eight  years  of  age,  the  receipt  whereof  I  do  hereby  acknowledge,  have 
given,  granted,  bargained  &  sold  &  by  these  presents  do  give,  grant,  bargain 
and  sell  unto  the  aforesaid  Dan  his  time  for  life,  liberating  &  making  him  a 
free  man  to  all  intents  as  tho'  he  had  been  born  free,  hereby  engaging  for 
myself,  my  heirs,  execrs  &  admin"  that  no  person  or  persons  claiming  from,, 
by  or  under  me  or  them  shall  have  any  right  to  demand  any  service  of  him 
in  future  as  a  slave. 

In  witness  whereof  I  have  hereunto  set  my  hand  &  seal  this  23d  day  of 
June  Anno  Domini  1777. 
Signed  Sealed  &  delivered  John  Woodman. 

in  presence  of 
John  Smith 
Jon».  Chesley. 

This  slave  took  the  name  Dan  Martin  and  served  as  a  soldier 
in  the  Revolution.  According  to  the  records  of  Durham  Dan 
Martin,  "late  a  soldier  for  Durham,"  received  £17.  He  and 
his  family  used  to  live  on  the  landing,  near  the  wharves,  near 
the  Gleason  house.  He  used  to  work  upon  the  boats  that  carried 
freight  to  Portsmouth.  He  died  at  Greenland  June  1839.  His 
wife  died  2  March  1830.  He  was  sometimes  called  Dan  Wood- 
man, and  he  named  a  son  Archelaus,  for  the  brother  of  his  former 
master.     They  were  buried  in  the  Chesley-Young  burial  lot. 

"Duke  Smith"  and  "Black  Pegg"  were  among  the  paupers 
bid  off  to  those  who  would  board  them  for  the  least  money,. 
1783-86.  The  price  varied  from  three  to  four  shillings  per  week. 
In  1786  the  town  was  charged  "for  a  Sheet  and  Shift  to  bury 


HISTORY    OF   DURHAM  253 

Black  Pegg  in."  She  had  been  kept  by  Robert  Wille,  and  Duke 
Smith  lived  with  Moses  Edgerly  at  the  expense  of  the  town. 

The  records  of  Durham  show  that  Portsmouth  or  Porch 
was  the  negro  dog-whipper  in  the  meeting  house,  in  1751 ,  1754 
and  1755.  The  dog-whipper  was  once  a  well-known  official 
in  England.  In  many  cases  he  was  the  sexton.  Perhaps  they 
remembered  the  saying  of  the  revelator,  "Without  are  dogs." 

During  the  Revolution,  1779,  twenty  slaves  of  New  Hamp- 
shire petitioned  the  Honorable  Council  and  House  of  Repre- 
sentatives for  their  freedom.  Among  them  was  Peter  Frost, 
slave  of  the  Hon.  George  Frost  of  Durham.  They  express  the 
desire  "that  the  name  of  Slave  may  not  more  be  heard  in  a  Land 
gloriously  contending  for  the  Sweets  of  Freedom."  No  action 
was  taken  on  this  petition,  "postponed  to  a  more  convenient 
opportunity."  Nero  Brewster  headed  the  petition,  called  King 
Brewster,  slave  of  Col.  William  Brewster  of  Portsmouth. 

The  census  returns  for  1767  show  that  Durham  then  had 
twenty-one  male  slaves  and  eleven  female  slaves;  in  1773  there 
were  fifteen  male  slaves  ahd  nine  female;  in  1775  Durham  had 
twenty-five  slaves  for  life;  in  1786  there  were  only  three  in  Dur- 
ham and  nine  in  all  Strafford  County. 

Agitation  for  the  abolition  of  slavery  began  in  New  Hamp- 
shire soon  after  1830,  amid  much  opposition.  A  Strafford 
County  Anti-Slavery  Convention  was  held  at  Gilmanton  Center, 
27  April  1836.  Among  those  who  signed  the  call  were  the  fol- 
lowing from  Durham,  John  A.  Richardson,  Joseph  Coe,  G.  W. 
Thompson,  Richard  Steele  and  John  I.  Kelly.  An  anti-slavery 
address  was  given  at  Durham  17  November  1836  by  the  Rev. 
David  Root  of  Dover,  on  Thanksgiving  evening,  and  at  the 
close  of  the  address  an  Anti -Slavery  Society  was  formed,  con- 
sisting of  sixty-three  members.  The  officers  of  the  society  were 
Dea.  Abraham  Perkins,  president;  Dea.  Daniel  Mathes,  vice- 
president,  and  Richard  Steele,  Esq.,  secretary. 

The  great  change  in  public  opinion  that  had  gradually  come 
about  in  Durham,  on  the  subject  of  slavery,  is  well  illustrated 
in  the  following  letter  addressed  to  Miss  Mary  P.  Thompson 
by  the  Rev.  Alvan  Tobey,  on  the  occasion  of  her  request  for  a 
church  letter  to  join  a  Presbyterian  church  at  Maysville,  Ky. 
The  letter  is  dated  4  May  1847: 


254  HISTORY    OF    DURHAM 

Your  request  for  a  dismission  from  the  Congregational  church  in  this  place 
and  a  recommendation  to  the  Presbyterian  church  in  Maysville,  Ky.,  was 
laid  before  the  church  last  Sabbath,  and  the  matter  was  referred  to  a  commit- 
tee consisting  of  the  pastor  and  deacons,  on  the  ground  that  the  circum- 
stances are  somewhat  peculiar.  The  peculiarity  of  the  circumstances  does 
not  relate  to  you  personally,  but  to  the  fact  that  Alaysville  is  in  a  slave  state, 
&  the  Presbyterian  church  there  probably  has  members  who  are  slave-holders. 
It  is  the  first  instance  in  which  a  direct  act  of  fellowship  with  a  church  in  a 
slave-holding  state  has  come  before  us.  It  is  important  that  we  should  decide 
upon  the  right  action  in  this  case,  as  it  may  be  a  precedent  in  time  to  come, 
and  our  whole  course  should  be  regulated  by  correct  principles.  Probably 
a  majority  of  this  church  would  not  consider  the  fact  of  another  church  having 
some  members  who  are  slaveholders  a  reason  for  withholding  from  it  all 
fellowship.  But  if  a  church  and  its  pastor  should  defend  slavery  as  right, 
as  a  good  institution,  and  its  members  should  hold  slaves  &  manage  them 
for  purposes  of  gain,  like  any  other  property,  it  is  hardly  probable  that  we 
should  think  it  right  to  have  fellowship  with  them.  In  this  case  it  seems  to 
us  desirable  to  have  more  information  before  we  act. 

We  should  be  glad  to  know  whether  there  are  slaveholders  in  the  Presby- 
terian church  in  Maysville?  if  there  are,  on  what  ground  they  are  considered 
justifiable  in  continuing  the  relation  of  master  and  slave?  And  whether 
slavery  is  approved  and  cherished  by  the  church  as  a  good  thing?  Or  is  it 
lamented  and  its  removal  sincerely  desired? 

Perhaps, — probably,  I  think,  it  would  have  been  granted,  if  all  the  church 
had  the  same  views  on  the  subject  that  I  have.  But  such  is  not  the  case. 
A  few  years  ago  the  subject  of  slavery  &  abolition  was  discussed  in  the  church 
&  created  such  a  difference  of  opinion  &  feeling  as  threatened  to  produce 
serious  difficully.  The  alienation  caused  by  it  then  has  apparently  been 
healed,  &  none  of  us,  I  believe,  wish  to  have  it  come  back  again.  We  wish 
&  we  mean,  I  think,  to  act  together  if  we  can,  but  we  all  are  strongly  opposed 
to  slavery  and  ready  to  express  our  disapprobation  of  it  and  our  desire  for 
its  removal,  if  we  can  in  any  way  that  is  proper  &  promises  to  do  good.  In 
my  own  opinion  slavery  should  not  be  a  bar  to  christian  fellowship. 

I  believe  there  are  Christian  slaveholders  &  that  for  us  to  separate  from 
them  is  neither  wise  nor  right.  It  is  not  the  way  most  likely  to  promote 
the  abolition  of  slavery  &  it  rejects  those  whom,  not  withstanding  their  imper- 
fections, I  believe  God  accepts. 

The  church  at  Durham  decided  not  to  grant  the  desired  letter, 
after  learning  that  there  were  slaveholders  in  the  church  at 
Maysville.  Had  all  northern  advisers  been  as  wise  and  consider- 
ate as  the  Rev.  Mr.  Tobey,  perhaps  much  trouble  might  have 
been  avoided.  Who  can  say?  Both  North  and  South  now 
rejoice  that  slavery  is  no  more  forever  in  this  "land  of  the  free." 

The  will  of  Margaret  Blydenburgh  of  Durham  was  signed 
30  May  1849  and  approved  the  first  Tuesday  in  January  1862. 
In  it  a  bequest  is  made  to  "William  Lloyd  Garrison,  the  editor 


HISTORY    OF   DURHAM  255 

of  the  newspaper  called  the  Liberator,  .  .  .  through  my 
regard  to  his  devotedness  and  valuable  services  to  the  cause  of 
truth,  religion  and  liberty."  The  sum  was  $1,000.  Also  she 
gave  the  residue  of  her  estate  to  him,  to  Wendell  Phillips,  to 
Parker  Pillsbury  and  to  Frederick  Douglass,  the  well-known 
advocates  of  anti-slavery  principles,  as  a  trust  fund  for  the 
benefit  of  the  fugitive  slaves  who  may  be  in  the  free  states. 


EDUCATION 

The  first  record  of  any  public  school  in  Dover  is  dated  5  April 
1658,  when  it  was  voted  that  twenty  pounds  be  appropriated  for 
the  maintenance  of  a  schoolmaster  for  all  the  children.  He  was 
to  teach  reading,  writing,  casting  accounts  and  Latin.  Charles 
Buckner  was  then  employed.  Probably  private  schools  had 
existed  before  this  date.  Massachusetts,  about  1647,  required 
that  towns  of  fifty  householders  should  have  a  school. 

The  early  ministers,  like  Daniel  Maud,  were  teachers  of  schools 
as  well  as  preachers  of  the  Gospel.  Sometimes  they  were  physi- 
cians also  and  they  did  much  law  business.  Ministers  and  school- 
masters were  exempted  from  Province  rates  as  early  as  1692,  and 
also  from  military  duty. 

A  petition,  dated  1715,  shows  that  the  people  at  the  Point 
were  accustomed  "to  hire  a  Schoolmaster  for  themselves  and 
adjacent  neighbors."  They  objected  to  having  one  school- 
master for  the  whole  town,  as  the  school,  in  that  case,  would  be 
too  far  distant  for  their  benefit.  When  Oyster  River  became  a 
parish,  in  1716,  the  people  were  permitted  and  required  to  have 
a  schoolmaster.  Dover  petitioned,  in  1722,  to  be  released  from 
the  obligation  to  have  a  grammar  school  during  the  Indian  War. 

The  first  reference  to  schools  after  the  incorporation  of  Dur- 
ham as  a  town  is  found  under  date  of  8  October  1736,  in  a  pre- 
amble to  a  call  for  a  town  meeting,  signed  by  the  selectmen, 
"And  itt  is  the  Desire  of  our  Reverant  pasture  Mr.  Hugh  Adams 
that  ye  town  should  vote  that  he  should  have  the  one  half  of  his 
salary  paid  him  on  or  before  the  first  week  in  October  annually 
from  time  to  time  and  whereas  his  son  Winbon  Adams  was  the 
schoolmaster  of  this  Town  for  the  present  year  and  Deceast  in 
that  ofice  in  the  Town  service  to  see  if  the  Town  will  vote  that 
sum  certain  Part  of  his  funeral  charge  be  Paid  out  of  the  town 
stock."  Winborn  Adams  was  born  in  Boston  and  at  the  time 
of  his  decease  was  21  years  of  age. 

The  earliest  schoolmasters  in  Durham  were  Hercules  Mooney, 

1751-66,  and  John  Smith,  who  is  first  mentioned  in  this  office  in 

1757.     Both  of  these  were  noted  in  their  profession.     Dr.  Joseph 

Atkinson  taught  in  1758,  and  Dr.  Samuel  Shepard  in  1759,  1762 

17  257 


HISTORY    OF   DURHAM  259 

and  1764.  Dea.  Nathaniel  Norton  was  a  teacher  in  1767,  and 
William  Parsons  taught  in  that  and  the  following  year.  John 
Marshall  is  mentioned  as  a  teacher  in  1772.  Up  to  1754  there 
seems  to  have  been  but  one  public  school.  In  1764  it  was  voted 
that  the  school  money  be  divided.  In  1768  the  town  voted  to 
keep  a  grammar  school.  In  1769  six  districts  and  committees 
were  voted,  and  forty  pounds  were  raised  for  the  support  of 
schools.  After  the  close  of  the  Revolutionary  War  seventy-five 
pounds  were  voted  to  maintain  schools. 

In  the  town  warrant,  dated  8  April  1794,  was  an  article  as 
follows,  "to  see  if  the  town  will  vote  to  build  a  house  for  the 
purpose  of  holding  town  meetings  in  the  future  or  vote  a  certain 
sum  to  be  laid  out  in  conjunction  with  subscribers  who  propose 
to  build  a  house  for  an  academy  and  to  have  both  under  one  roof. " 
The  proposal  was  defeated.  The  next  year  the  town  voted 
"that  money  should  be  raised  sufficient  to  build  a  school  house  in 
each  district  in  the  town."  At  a  subsequent  meeting  the  same 
year  this  vote  was  reconsidered.  In  1797  a  committee  of  eight 
was  appointed  to  locate  and  build  schoolhouses  in  the  several 
districts.  The  town  warrant,  dated  26  March  1798,  called  the 
meeting  "at  the  schoolhouse  lately  erected  near  the  Widow 
Griffin's  in  said  Durham."  Miss  Mary  P.  Thompson  attended 
school  there  when  she  was  but  three  years  and  a  half  old.  She 
writes,  "The  old  wooden  school-house,  where  I  first  went  to 
school  in  my  childhood  stood  between  the  Griffin  house  (now 
Buzzell's)  and  the  present  house  of  Samuel  Runlett,  opposite 
the  Richardson  house." 

The  Durham  school  districts  are  mentioned  in  the  records  of 
1794  as  1,  Falls,  First  North  District,  i.  e.,  in  Durham  village;  2, 
Falls,  Second  North  District,  i.  e.,  the  district  around  Buck's  Hill; 
3,  Falls,  South  District,  now  the  Broth  Hill  District;  4,  Lubber- 
land;  5,  Point  District;  6,  Packer's  Falls;  7,  District  below 
Jones'  Creek;  afterward  called  the  Bridge  District;  8,  District 
above  William  Spinney's.  The  last  was  called  the  Mast  Road 
District  in  1797. 

In  accordance  with  a  law  passed  in  1805,  providing  for  the 
separation  of  towns  into  districts  for  school  purposes,  Durham 
was  divided  into  ten  school  districts  and  until  1885  the  duty  of 
providing  teachers  was  taken  from  the  selectman  and  imposed 
upon  a  prudential  committee  of  theseveral  districts.     In  Durham, 


260  HISTORY   OF   DURHAM 

during  this  period,  a  superintending  school  committee,  consisting 
of  from  one  to  three  persons,  was  annually  chosen  to  supervise 
the  schools,  often  the  pastor  of  one  of  the  churches  filling  this 
office  for  a  very  small  remuneration. 

Benjamin  Thompson,  who  founded  the  college,  taught  school 
three  months  in  1825  for  $12  per  month  in  District  Number 
Two  and  $14  per  month  in  District  Number  Four,  as  receipts 
show.     During  this  time  he  was  informed  by  a  note  as  follows: 

Mr.  Thompson: 

Sir — I  would  inform  you  that  Ivory  has  Come  home  with  a  peace  pinched 
out  of  his  Check  he  says  by  James  Langley  Between  Schools,  you  will  En- 
quire into  it.     From  yours  &c.  Wear  Colcord. 

Mr.  Thompson  preserved  a  list  of  fifty-seven  boys  and  forty- 
three  girls  who  were  his  pupils  in  the  two  districts.  The  list, 
alphabetically  arranged,  is  as  follows:  Boys — John  Burnham, 
Joseph  Burnham,  Langdon  Burnham,  Moses  Burnham,  William 
Chesley,  Ivory  Colcord,  William  Colcord,  Caleb  Davis,  Enoch 
Davis,  George  Davis,  Charles  Follett,  Richard  Follett,  John 
Farnham,  Daniel  Holt,  Henry  Holt,  Stephen  Holt,  Joseph  Hoit, 
Robinson  Jones,  John  Keniston,  Nathan  Keniston,  Andrew 
Langley,  Gilman  Langley,  James  Langley,  John  Langley, 
Thomas  Langley,  Alfred  Langley,  Moses  Langley,  John  Langley 
and  James  Langley  again,  David  Laken,  Ezekiel  Leathers, 
Stephen  Nudd,  Alfred  Paul,  Howard  Paul,  James  Paul,  Stephen 
Paul,  Frederic  Parks,  Timothy  Parks,  Charles  Parks,  Alfred 
Pinkham,  Daniel  Pinkham,  Stephen  Pinkham,  William  Pink- 
ham,  James  Presson,  William  Shackford,  Mark  W.  Walker,  James 
Wiggin,  George  Wiggin,  John  Wiggin,  William  Wiggin,  Jacob 
Willey,  Henry  Willey,  Ira  Willey,  James  Willey,  Ira  Tego  and 
John  Tego. 

The  girls  were  Caroline  Burnham,  Eliza  Burnham,  Hannah 
Burnham,  Hannah  Burnham  again,  Jane  Cox,  Jane  Davis,  Mary 
Davis,  Sarah  Ann  Colcord,  Temperance  Ann  Edgerly,  Susan 
Farnham,  Abigail  Farnham,  Caroline  Follett,  Elizabeth  Holt, 
Elizabeth  Hussey,  Caroline  Jenkens,  Mary  Keniston,  Lucia  Ann 
Keniston,  Abigail  Langley,  Abigail  Langley  again,  Abigail  Lang- 
ley, 3d,  Martha  Langley,  Mary  Ann  Langley,  Sophronia  Langley, 
Sarah  Langley,  Deborah  Langley,  Caroline  Mathes,  Jane  Nudd, 
Caroline  Paul,  Mary  Paul,  Susan  Paul,  Temperance  Ann  Paul, 
Jane  Parks,  Sarah  Ann  Parks,  Eliza  Pinkham,  Caroline  Pinkham, 


HISTORY    OF   DURHAM  26l 

Sally  Pinkham,  Fanny  Pinkham,  Maria  Tego,  Harriet  Willey, 
Mehitable  Willey,  Susannah  Willey,  Mary  Willey,  Lydia  Wiggin. 
George  Frost  was  a  teacher  near  the  close  of  the  eighteenth 
century,  and  one  of  his  pupils  was  Judge  Valentine  Smith.  The 
school  was  in  one  of  the  chambers  of  the  Smith  homestead  at 
Lubberland.     Judge  Smith  himself  taught  at  Lubberland. 

Among  the  teachers  in  the  village,  in  the  thirties,  were  Samuel 
Burnham,  Sarah  Odell,  Hannah  Ela,  Edmund  J.  Lane,  Susan  R. 
Wilson,  George  P.  Edney,  Timothy  Hilliard. 

Stephen  Mitchell  taught  in  1802;  Edward  Wells  in  1802,  1804, 
1805  and  1808;  Charles  Hardy  in  1807. 

There  was  a  petition  for  "a  woman  school,"  for  the  benefit  of 
small  children,  in  1 804.  Mrs.  Mary  Hardy,  widow  of  Theo- 
philus  Hardy,  and  sister  of  Gen.  John  Sullivan,  was  teaching  in 
1 812.  She  rented  the  front  room  in  the  old  schoolhouse  between 
the  Runlett  and  the  Griffin  houses,  and  this  was  called  the  "girls' 
room. "  Here  she  lived,  cooked  in  the  open  fireplace,  and  taught. 
Sarah  S.  Blunt  taught  in  1835;  Abigail  H.  Folsom  in  1838; 
Preston  Rand,  Jr.,  and  John  S.  Woodman  in  1839;  and  Hiram 
Kelsey  in  1840.  Other  natives  of  Durham  who  have  become 
noted  as  teachers  are  Edward  Lancaster,  Edwin  DeMeritt,  Prof. 
B.  F.  Dame,  John  S.  Hayes  of  Somerville,  Mass.,  George  W. 
Ransom,  and  Calvert  King  Mellen. 

In  the  year  1846  the  amount  raised  for  schools  was  $546, 
divided  among  the  ten  districts  of  the  town.  About  fifteen  years 
later  and  until  the  time  the  district  system  was  abolished  the 
amount  so  expended  annually  varied  from  $1,200  to  $1,500.  In 
1902-03  the  amount  expended  in  three  schools,  with  five  teachers, 
was  $2,835. 

In  1859-60  the  number  of  pupils  enrolled  was  292;  in  1884-85 
the  number  was  148.  The  length  of  the  school  year  in  1857  and 
in  1884  varied  in  the  different  districts  from  fifteen  to  thirty-two 
weeks.  Now  there  are  four  schoolhouses  and  thirty-six  weeks 
of  school.  The  equipment  is  excellent,  and  there  is  state  aid  in 
supervision  of  the  schools. 

We  have  seen  that  Durham  academy  was  talked  of  in  Durham 
as  early  as  1794.  It  was  not  till  1839  that  the  New  Hampshire 
Christian  Baptist  Conference  decided  to  establish  "an  Academy 
where  the  youth  both  male  and  female  may  be  taught  the  various 
branches  of  education  free  from  the  leaven  of  sectarianism." 


262  HISTORY    OF    DURHAM 

They  further  stated  that  "their  wish  and  intention  is  to  establish 
an  Academy  of  a  strictly  literary  character,  without  any  reference 
to  the  profession  the  students  may  be  disposed  to  choose  after- 
ward." The  conference  invited  requests  from  any  villages  or 
neighborhoods  that  wished  to  have  such  an  institution.  In 
response  to  this  appeal  Elder  William  Demeritt  of  Durham,  pastor 
of  the  Christian  Baptist  Church,  and  other  citizens  of  Durham 
became  interested  in  securing  the  location  of  this  academy.  They 
were  successful  in  their  efforts,  and  the  act  of  incorporation  was 
passed  in  1840,  locating  the  institution  at  Durham,  to  be  known 
as  the  Durham  Academy.  Elder  Demeritt  was  the  chief  finan- 
cial and  business  manager.  The  original  design  was  to  have  an 
institution  that  would  accommodate  250  pupils,  and  donations 
were  solicited  throughout  the  conference.  A  large  share  of  the 
expense,  however,  was  paid  by  Elder  Demeritt,  who  left  his  farm 
and  moved  into  the  house  now  occupied  by  C.  E.  Hoitt,  where 
he  boarded  pupils.  The  academy  was  located  on  an  acre  of 
land  between  the  village  cemetery  and  the  brick  church,  bought 
of  Widow  Hannah  Young.  It  was  a  two-story  edifice  built  of 
brick  and  stone  and  consisted  of  a  large  room  and  two  class  rooms 
on  each  floor,  besides  a  basement.  The  lower  story  was  devoted 
to  the  boys,  and  the  upper  story  to  the  girls,  while  the  basement 
was  used  by  the  Christian  Society  as  a  vestry.  The  building  had 
a  tower  and  bell.  The  site  can  be  seen  easterly  of  the  present 
schoolhouse  fence. 

The  first  term  of  the  academy  commenced  27  August  1841, 
with  Joshua  D.  Berry  as  principal,  assisted  by  his  sister.  Among 
those  who  taught  in  the  academy  might  be  mentioned  Trueman  K. 
Wright,  Miss  Martha  Bridgman  of  Hanover,  who  married  Mr. 
Wright,  Maurice  Lamprey  of  Hampton,  Mary  F.  Kent,  O.  D. 
Adams,  Mr.  Hills,  Mr.  Pease,  Mr.  Courser,  Miss  Richardson, 
Miss  Allen,  Orrin  Payson,  Edward  Lancaster,  Ira  G.  Hoitt, 
James  Bates,  Dr.  John  G.  Pike,  Joshua  M.  Pitman,  Mary  E. 
Kelley,  George  K.  Hilton,  Abraham  Burnham  and  George  F. 
Kelton. 

Among  the  pupils  who  attended  were  Hon.  Joshua  B.  Smith, 
Miss  Mary  P.  Thompson,  Maj.  Enoch  G.  Adams,  Dr.  John  G. 
Pike,  Dr.  T.  J.  W.  Pray,  Hamilton  Smith,  John  S.  Hayes,  J.  W. 
Coe,  John  E.  Thompson,  Dr.  R.  L.  Hodsdon  and  Dea.  Winthrop 
S.  Meserve. 


HISTORY   OF   DURHAM 


263 


Elder  William  Demeritt  died  in  1842  and  the  academy  severely 
felt  his  absence.  An  effort  was  made  to  cancel  the  debt  and  to 
raise  an  endowment.  The  tuition  and  other  resources  were  not 
sufficient  to  meet  expenses,  and  thus  the  institution  gradually 
declined.  Higher  institutions  of  learning  must  give  much  for 
little  in  order  to  attract  students.  Education  has  to  be  about 
as  free  as  the  Gospel  before  many  will  be  induced  to  receive  it. 


Village  School  House 
Erected  on  site  of  the  Brick  Meeting  House 


But  while  Durham  Academy  flourished,  it  ranked  high  in  efficiency 
and  was  a  credit  to  the  town. 

In  one  term  sixty-eight  males  and  forty-four  females  were 
enrolled  as  pupils,  about  thirty  per  cent,  being  non-residents  and 
some  coming  from  other  states.  The  academic  year  consisted 
of  four  terms  of  eleven  weeks  each.  Students  were  fitted  for 
college,  and  there  were  other  courses  of  four  years.  The  tuition 
was  $4  per  term,  with  additional  expense  for  extras.  Board  was 
from  $1.25  to  $1.50  per  week,  including  everything  except  wood. 

In  1864  John  S.  Smith,  pastor  of  the  First  Christian  Church, 
proposed  that  the  academy  building  be  sold  at  auction  and  the 


264  HISTORY   OF  DURHAM 

seats  used  for  the  brick  church  that  had  been  built  near  by.  The 
walls  were  cracked  and  the  building  was  unsafe.  The  brick  and 
stone  were  taken  to  Portsmouth.  The  bell  was  stored  in  Mark 
Willey's  shop,  and  in  1879  it  could  not  be  found,  and  an  effort  was 
made  to  collect  $42  for  it. 

For  about  sixty  years  the  people  of  Durham  have  missed  the 
advantages  of  the  academy  and  have  been  obliged  to  pay  tuition 
and  car-fares  to  have  their  children  attend  the  high  school, 
academy,  or  seminary  in  Dover,  Newmarket,  Exeter  or  other 
towns.  Some  families  have  removed  from  town  in  order  to 
educate  their  children,  and  other  families  have  not  moved  into 
town  because  of  this  lack  of  educational  facilities.  This  has  been 
a  serious  loss  to  the  town.  The  growing  college  and  increasing 
population  demand  a  preparatory  school  of  first  grade.  Such 
an  institution  would  help  Durham  in  many  ways.  The  conse- 
quent increase  of  value  to  real  estate  would  indirectly  pay  for 
the  building.  It  would  attract  students  and  families  to  the  town. 
It  is  hoped  that  some  generous  person  may  imitate  the  noble 
example  of  Benjamin  Thompson  and  give  or  bequeath  funds 
sufficient  to  establish  an  institution  that  shall  even  surpass  in 
honor  and  usefulness  old  Durham  Academy. 

The  following  is  Durham's  Collegiate  Roll  of  Honor:  John 
Sullivan,  James  Sullivan  and  George  Sullivan,  Harvard,  1790; 
Jacob  Sheafe  Smith,  Harvard,  1805;  Henry  Smith,  Bowdoin, 
1810;  John  A.  Richardson,  Dartmouth,  1819;  Richard  Steele, 
Dartmouth,  1815;  John  Thompson,  Harvard,  1822;  Hamilton 
Smith,  Dartmouth,  1829;  Charles  Ingalls,  Dartmouth,  1829; 
George  P.  Mathes,  Dartmouth,  1834;  William  B.  Smith,  Dart- 
mouth, 1840;  John  S.  Woodman,  Dartmouth,  1842;  Enoch 
George  Adams,  Yale,  1849;  Hilliard  Flanders,  Union  Seminary, 
1849;  John  Isaac  Ira  Adams,  Yale,  1852;  George  T.  Wiggin 
Dartmouth,  1859;  William  A.  Odell,  Harvard,  1864;  George  S. 
Frost,  Dartmouth,  1865;  Gen.  Charles  W.  Bartlett,  Dartmouth, 
1869;  Edwin  DeMeritt,  Dartmouth,  1869;  Frank  DeMeritt, 
Dartmouth,  1870;  George  E.  Thompson,  Dartmouth,  Chandler 
Scientific,  1879,  and  Harvard  Medical,  1884;  George  W.  Ran- 
som, Dartmouth,  1886;  Miss  Ada  M.  Thompson,  Wellesley, 
1886;  Rev.  William  J.  Drew,  Berea,  1891;  Miss  Margaret  A. 
Coe,  Smith  College,  1896;  Miss  Anne  H.  Coe,  Smith  College, 
1902;    Roy  W.   Mathes,   Dartmouth   Medical,    1906;    John   R. 


HISTORY    OF   DURHAM  265 

Mathes,  Dartmouth,  1900;  James  M.  Mathes,  Dartmouth, 
191 1 ;  Miss  Ruth  E.  Thompson,  Denver  University,  1912;  Cal- 
vert King  Mellen,  Norwich  University,  1884. 

The  following  residents  of  Durham  have  graduated  at  the  New 
Hampshire  College  of  Agriculture  and  Mechanic  Arts: 

Miss  Carrie  L.  Comings,  1897;  Miss  M.  E.  Comings,  1897; 
Leslie  D.  Hayes,  1897;  Miss  Mabel  L.  Hayes,  1898;  Miss  Etta 
L.  Simpson,  1899;  Miss  Fannie  Burnham,  1900;  Charles  E.  P. 
Mathes,  1900;  Miss  Alvena  Pettee,  1900;  Miss  Blanche  M. 
Foye,  1900;  Harold  M.  Runlett,  1901;  Eugene  P.  Runlett, 
1902;  Ernest  F.  Bickford,  1903;  David  A.  Watson,  1903;  Frank 
R.  Brown,  1903;  Everett  G.  Davis,  1903;  Albert  N.  Otis,  1903; 
Horace  J.  Pettee,  1905;  Warren  C.  Hayes,  1905;  Miss  Lucia  S. 
Watson,  1907;  Miss  Sarah  E.  Pettee,  1908;  Miss  Katharine 
DeMeritt,  1908;  Miss  Margaret  DeMeritt,  1908,  M.  A.,  1912; 
Mary  A.  Chesley,  1908;  Stephen  DeMeritt,  1912;  Miss  Bernice 
M.  Hayes,  1912;  Myles  S.  Watson,  1912;  Charles  F.  Scott,  1913; 
Miss  Marie  L.  Robertson,  1900. 

The   New   Hampshire   College   of   Agriculture   and 
Mechanic  Arts 

It  was  a  great  day  for  Durham  when  this  institution,  which 
began  its  existence  in  1866  at  Hanover,  was  removed  here.  The 
inducement  was  the  bequest  of  Benjamin  Thompson,  of  which 
mention  is  made  in  the  biographical  sketch  of  that  benefactor. 
The  bequest,  by  accumulation  of  interest,  now  amounts  to  an 
endowment  of  nearly  $800,000,  and  its  annual  income  of  about 
$32,000  became  available  first  in  19 10.  The  State  appropriated 
$100,000  for  building  in  1891  and  an  additional  appropriation 
of  $35,000  in  1893,  when  the  college  entered  upon  its  new  career. 
New  buildings  have  been  added  from  time  to  time,  made  neces- 
sary by  the  rapidly  increasing  number  of  students  and  by  new 
courses  of  study.  Its  halls  and  campus  are  taking  on  the  appear- 
ance of  the  old  New  England  colleges,  except  that  the  campus 
is  larger  and  has  greater  variety  of  landscape,  with  much  natural 
beauty.  The  college  owns  380  acres,  of  which  seventy  acres  are 
forest  and  one  hundred  and  twenty  acres  are  in  tillage.  There 
are  hill  and  dale,  orchard  and  woodland,  meadow  and  stream, 
gardens  and  greenhouses,  race-track  and  ball-ground.     A  special 


W.   -; 


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NESMITH  HALL 


SMITH  HALL 


THOMPSON   HALL 


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HISTORY   OF   DURHAM  267 

dormitory  has  been  built  for  young  ladies,  and  the  young  men  in 
clubs  hire  spacious  houses  with  all  needed  accommodations.  The 
removal  of  the  railroad  track  toward  the  west  and  the  disappear- 
ance of  several  unsightly  buildings  have  made  possible  the  further 
beautifying  of  the  campus. 

The  growth  of  the  college  has  been  phenomenal.  In  1893  the 
enrollment  of  students  numbered  only  thirty  and  there  were  only 
seven  professors  in  the  Faculty.  Now  there  are  354  students 
enrolled  and  the  Faculty  has  forty-two  instructors.  Nearly 
2,000  students  have  already  availed  themselves  of  the  privileges 
of  this  institution,  perhaps  induced  in  many  cases  by  the  reason- 
ableness of  expense,  which  need  not  exceed  $300  annually.  There 
are  also  a  goodly  number  of  scholarships,  besides  opportunities 
for  partial  self-support.  Here  may  be  found  an  earnest  set  of 
young  people,  who  go  to  college  for  hard  intellectual  work  more 
than  for  athletics  and  a  general  good  time.  However,  they  get 
athletic  exercises  and  good  times  incidentally,  the  way  happiness 
must  always  come.  There  is  an  excellent  gymnasium  and  the 
play-ground  adjoining  welcomes  often  enough  teams  and  ball 
clubs  from  other  New  England  colleges. 

The  buildings  of  the  college  can  not  be  described  in  a  few 
words  better  than  by  quoting  from  the  last  bulletin : 

Thompson  Hall  is  the  main  administrative  building  and  contains  the  offices 
of  the  President,  the  Dean,  the  Registrar  and  the  Purchasing  Agent.  Here 
also  are  located  the  departments  of  Drawing  and  Machine  Design,  Modern 
Languages,  Mathematics  and  Zoology. 

Conant  Hall  is  given  ovei  wholly  to  the  departments  of  Chemistry,  Physics 
and  Electrical  Engineering. 

Morrill  Hall  contains  the  Experiment  Station  Library  of  over  twenty-five 
hundred  volumes,  the  office  of  the  Director  of  the  Expeiiment  Station,  and  the 
laboratories,  lecture  rooms  and  offices  of  the  departments  of  Agronomy,  Animal 
Husbandry,  Horticulture  and  Forestry. 

Nesmith  Hall  is  occupied  by  the  departments  of  Chemistry  and  Botany 
of  the  Experiment  Station  and  contains  the  laboratory  and  lecture  room  of  the 
department  of  Botany  of  the  college. 

The  Mechanical  Engineering  Building  contains  a  wood  shop,  a  machine 
shop,  a  forge  shop,  a  foundry  and  the  laboratories  of  the  Mechanical  Engineer- 
ing department. 

In  the  Armory-  are  the  lecture  rooms  and  offices  of  the  Military'  department, 
the  rooms  of  the  College  Club  and  a  large  drill  hall  or  gymnasium. 

The  Dairy  Building  is  arranged  and  equipped  in  the  most  up-to-date  and 
sanitary  manner.  .  It  contains  a  commercial  creamery-,  with  separator  room, 
churning  room  and  cold  storage  room;    laboratories  for  giving  instruction  in 


HISTORY   OF   DURHAM  269 

milk  testing,  milk  inspection,  farm  butter  and  cheese  making  and  bacteriology; 
a  reading  and  exhibition  room;  a  class  room  and  offices. 

The  college  has  also  an  insectary,  a  large  modern  dairy  barn,  several  smaller 
barns  for  sheep,  horses,  etc.,  and  a  range  of  greenhouses  especially  planned  for 
carrying  on  up-to-date  work  in  greenhouse  management. 

Smith  Hall,  the  woman's  dormitory,  was  made  possible  by  the  generosity 
of  Mrs.  Shirley  Onderdonk,  of  Durham,  who  gave  sixteen  thousand  dollars  as 
a  memorial  to  her  mother,  Mrs.  Alice  Hamilton  Smith.  The  remainder  of 
the  cost,  ten  thousand  dollars,  was  provided  by  the  State.  The  building 
furnishes  accommodations  for  thirty-two  students. 

In  accordance  with  an  act  of  consolidation  between  the  libraries  of  Durham 
and  the  college,  the  books  of  the  Durham  Public  Library  and  the  college  are 
all  shelved  in  one  building  and  form  the  Hamilton  Smith  Public  Library. 
This  consolidation  makes  an  especially  good  collection,  the  scientific  books  of 
the  college  supplementing  well  the  more  popular  books  of  the  town  library. 
The  consolidated  libraries  number  about  30,000  bound  volumes  and  10,000 
pamphlets. 

On  the  thirteenth  day  of  April  1913,  the  Governor  of  New- 
Hampshire  signed  the  bill  appropriating  $80,000  for  a  new  engi- 
neering building,  which  will  be  erected  at  once. 

Thus  have  been  brought  together  in  twrenty  years  buildings 
and  property  to  the  value  of  about  half  a  million  of  dollars,  besides 
the  endowment  fund.  Surely  a  firm  basis  has  been  laid,  and  the 
future  growth  of  the  college  is  assured.  The  application  of 
science  to  agriculture  has  made  farming  in  New  England  a  new 
and  attractive  business,  demanding  brains  as  well  as  brawn.  The 
trolley,  the  telephone  and  the  rural  delivery  of  mail  no  longer 
leave  the  farmhouse  in  lonely  isolation.  Good  roads  are  bringing 
the  markets  nearer.  Will  women  become  farmers,  and  is  this 
the  reason  why  they  are  admitted  to  New  Hampshire  College? 
Why  not?  Indeed,  this  is  actually  the.  fact  and  one  of  growing 
importance.  It  has  been  proved  that  women  have  business 
enterprise  and  scientific  knowledge  sufficient  to  manage  large 
farms  successfully.  There  is  reason  to  think  that  they  will  soon 
compete  with  men  in  this  vocation,  as  they  are  now  doing  in 
many  trades  and  professions  that  were  once  closed  to  them. 
Good  agriculture  is  the  basis  of  human  welfare  in  material  things, 
and  should  be  considered  an  honorable  occupation  and  made 
sufficiently  lucrative. 

Look  at  the  list  of  subjects  taught  and  wish  yourself  young 
again,  such  as  the  study  of  soils,  seeds,  farming  machinery,  domes- 
lie  animals  and  their  proper  care,  dairying,  orcharding,  horti- 


Kappa  Sigma  Beta  Phi  Theta  Chi 

Gamma  ThetX  Zeta  Epsilon  Zeta 

Houses  now  or  once  used  by  College  Fraternities 


HISTORY    OF   DURHAM  27 1 

culture,  forestry,  botany  and  chemistry.  Thus  equipped  the 
young  farmer  begins  his  work,  knowing  what  to  do  on  his  par- 
ticular farm  and  how  to  do  it.  He  can  raise  a  profitable  crop  of 
something  almost  anywhere,  if  he  only  knows  how.  He  can 
draw  nutriment  out  of  the  air,  by  proper  rotation  of  crops.  If 
one  does  not  like  farming,  one  can  here  become  fitted  to  be  a 
chemist,  an  electrical  or  mechanical  engineer,  a  surveyor,  a 
machinist,  a  teacher,  and  to  handle  a  great  variety  of  tools. 
The  student  learns  to  do  things  as  well  as  to  philosophize  about 
them.  Here  is  pragmatism  in  contrast  with  speculative  phi- 
losophy. 

The  military  drill,  optional  in  the  senior  year,  is  a  useful  train- 
ing for  many,  but  will  be  abandoned  with  the  growth  of  the 
college  into  a  State  University,  for  the  time  is  hastening  on  when 
international  arbitration  will  keep  the  peace  of  the  world  and 
the  nations  shall  learn  war  no  more. 

Education  by  the  State  is  taking  the  place  of  education  by 
Christian  denominations,  and  the  former  is  no  less  Christian 
than  the  latter.  New  Hampshire  ought  to  have  at  least  one 
institution  of  learning,  where  women  have  equal  privileges  with 
men  and  both  may  pursue  any  lines  of  study  they  may  choose. 
A  course  in  Domestic  Science  and  Household  Arts  is  the  latest 
attraction.  Why  not  have  also  courses  in  architecture,  sculpture, 
painting,  music,  and  literature?  All  these  departments  will 
be  added  in  due  time.  An  endowment  by  some  noble  patron  or 
alumnus  will  hasten  the  desired  end. 

It  is  gratifying  to  know  that  the  college  recognizes  that  it 
should  be  an  educator  of  the  people  at  large  as  well  as  of  the 
students  that  flock  to  Durham.  Bulletins  of  very  valuable 
information  go  forth  from  the  Experiment  Station.  "A  College 
on  Wheels"  is  the  name  given  to  its  Extension  Service,  that 
sends  lecturers  throughout  the  State  to  teach  farmers  how  to 
raise  fruit,  hay,  stock,  etc.,  that  makes  exhibits  at  fairs,  and 
enrolls  whosoever  will  in  agricultural  reading  courses. 

The  first  president  of  the  college,  after  its  separation  from 
Dartmouth  and  removal  to  Durham,  was  Dr.  Charles  S.  Murk- 
land,  who  took  charge  in  the  fall  of  1893  and  served  for  ten  years. 
Perhaps  the  richest  legacy  left  by  this  able  and  erudite  president 
is  the  spirit  of  true  scholarship  which  characterized  his  adminis- 
tration and  which  still   remains.     President  William  D.  Gibbs 


Edward  Thomson  Fairchild,  LL.D. 
President  of  New  Hampshire  College 


HISTORY   OF    DURHAM 


273 


served  as  chief  officer  during  the  past  nine  years.  He  was  singu- 
larly strong  in  his  administration  of  financial  affairs,  and  during 
his  term  the  college  prospered  greatly.  Several  buildings  were 
added  and  the  number  of  students  more  than  doubled. 

Edward  Thomson  Fairchild,  Ph.  D.,  LL.  D.,  was  elected  presi- 
dent of  the  college  in  August,  1912.  He  is  a  native  of  Ohio,  edu- 
cated at  Wesleyan  and  Wooster  Universities.  His  whole  life  has 
been  devoted  to  educational  work.  He  taught  in  Ohio  Normal 
School  and  served  as  state  superintendent  of  schools.  Later  he  was 
city  superintendent  of  schools  in  Kansas  and  for  eight  years  was 


Residenxe  of  the  College  President 


a  member  of  the  board  of  regents  of  the  Agricultural  College. 
Three  years  he  was  state  superintendent  of  public  instruction  in 
Kansas,  when  he  formulated  workable  and  up-to-date  courses  of 
study  in  rural,  graded  and  high  schools  throughout  the  state. 
At  the  time  of  his  election  as  president  of  New  Hampshire  College 
he  was  president  of  the  National  Educational  Association  and 
also  superintendent  of  public  instruction  for  Kansas.  The  latter 
position  he  resigned  upon  coming  to  New  Hampshire.  He  has 
already  impressed  himself  upon  the  college  and  town  as  a  man  of 
unusual  graciousness  and  tact  in  handling  administrative  prob- 

18 


Dean  Charles  H.  Pettee,  LL.D. 


HISTORY    OF   DURHAM  275 

lems  and  as  a  scholar  particularly  well  informed  in  educational 
matters. 

Mention  ought  to  be  made  of  the  work  of  Prof.  Charles  H. 
Pettee,  LL.  D.,  who  has  served  as  deaai  of  the  college  fourteen 
years.  After  graduating  from  Dartmouth  in  1874  and  from  the 
Thayer  School  of  Civil  Engineering  in  1876  he  accepted  the  chair 
of  Mathematics  and  Civil  Engineering  in  the  New  Hampshire 
College,  then  at  Hanover.  He  assisted  in  planning  and  providing 
for  the  erection  of  the  buildings  at  Durham  and  has  been  a  posi- 
tive force  in  the  development  of  the  town.  He  is  a  deacon  and 
constant  helper  in  the  church  and  in  the  prosperity  and  future 
growth  of  the  town  he  shows  his  faith  by  his  works. 

At  the  commencement  exercises  held  11  June  1913  the  presi- 
dent of  the  college  conferred  the  degree  of  LL.  D.  on  Dean  Pettee 
in  the  following  words: 

Charles  Holmes  Pettee,  Dean  of  the  College,  for  thirty-eight  years  you  have 
served  this  institution  faithfully  and  well.  Your  loyalty  has  been  such  that 
no  task  has  been  too  humble  or  too  difficult  to  enlist  your  quick  sympathy 
and  earnest  action  You  have  worked  for  its  interests  in  season  and  out  of 
season.  Ever  ready  with  kind  advice  or  sympathetic  assistance,  you  have 
been  a  consistent  friend  of  the  thousands  of  students  who  have  been  enrolled 
in  this  college.  Hundreds  of  former  students  and  the  alumni  of  this  institution 
will  join  in  approval  of  the  action  of  the  trustees  in  bestowing  upon  you  the 
honorary  degree  of  Doctor  of  Laws,  and  I  now  declare  you  entitled  to  all  the 
rights  and  privileges  belonging  thereto. 

Libraries 

The  educational  history  of  Durham  demands  that  something 
should  be  said  about  the  public  libraries  that  have  done  so 
much  to  stimulate  desire  for  sound  learning  and  to  enrich  the 
minds  of  readers.  The  Durham  Social  Library  was  incorpo- 
rated in  1815,  and  the  Durham  Agricultural  Library  was  incor- 
porated in  1862.  For  a  long  time  the  books  of  both  were  on  the 
upper  floor  of  lawyer  Richardson's  office  and  were  in  constant 
circulation.  After  Squire  Richardson's  death  no  use  was  made 
of  them  until  Mr.  Albert  DeMeritt  initiated  a  movement  to 
secure  them  as  a  nucleus  for  a  new  library.  Money  was  raised, 
Benjamin  Thompson  being  a  liberal  contributor,  and,  9  March 
1 88 1,  the  Durham  Social  Library  was  organized.  The  books  of 
all  the  libraries  were  kept  in  the  Congregational  Church  and 
Maj.  H.  B.  Mellen  was  librarian.     The  Durham  Library  Associa- 


2/6  HISTORY    OF    DURHAM 

tion  was  incorporated  8  March  1883,  and  the  Richardson  law- 
office  and  land  were  purchased,  the  building  remodeled,  and  the 
upper  floor  leased  to  Scammell  Grange.  Maj.  H.  B.  Mellen 
continued  as  librarian  on  the  lower  floor,  and  he  was  succeeded 
by  Hon.  Joshua  B.  Smith,  Miss  Mary  E.  Smith  and  Miss  Char- 
lotte A.  Thompson. 

Mrs.  Lydia  Simpson  died  in  1895  and  left  about  $8,000  to  the 
Durham  Library  Association,  in  trust,  the  income  to  be  used. 
March  8,  1892,  the  town  voted  to  accept  the  provisions  of  an  act 
to  establish  free  libraries. 

March  18,  1893,  the  town  and  Durham  Library  Association 
signed  a  contract,  securing  the  union  of  the  library  of  the  town 
with  that  of  the  association. 

January  13,  1906,  a  contract  was  signed  by  the  New  Hampshire 
College,  the  town  of  Durham  and  the  Durham  Library  Associa- 
tion, whereby  the  three  libraries  were  consolidated,  all  three 
contributing  toward  its  support.  The  running  expenses  are 
paid  by  the  college,  and  the  library  is  open  to  all  the  citizens  of 
Durham.  The  funds  for  the  Hamilton  Smith  Public  Library 
building  were  contributed  by  Hamilton  Smith  and  Andrew 
Carnegie,  and  the  building  was  furnished  by  the  State  of  New 
Hampshire.  There  are  30,000  volumes  in  the  library,  five  daily 
papers,  twenty  New  Hampshire  weekly  papers  and  a  large  num- 
ber of  magazines.  Thus  it  is  seen  that  Durham  has  exceptional 
library  advantages. 

In  connection  with  the  libraries  of  Durham  honorable  mention 
should  be  made  of  Maj.  Henry  B.  Mellen,  who  was  born  in 
Durham  2  March  1828.  He  served  during  the  Civil  War  in  the 
Second  California  Cavalry,  continuing  in  military  service  till 
4  October  1872,  when  he  was  retired  "for  loss  of  right  foot  at 
ankle  and  left  leg  below  the  knee,  from  injuries  rceived  in  line 
of  duty."  His  service  was  in  California,  Louisiana  and  Texas, 
and  he  had  charge  of  the  erection  of  several  frontier  forts.  Begin- 
ning as  first  lieutenant,  he  gradually  rose  to  the  rank  of  major. 
Soon  after  his  retirement  he  settled  in  Durham  and  became 
interested  in  the  Library  Association,  serving  gratuitously  as 
librarian  and  on  the  book  committee.  He  died  in  Durham  20 
June  1907,  aged  78. 


LAWYERS  AND  LAW  STUDENTS  OF  DURHAM 

Ichabod  Bartlett  was  born  in  Salisbury,  24  July  1786.  He 
graduated  at  Dartmouth  in  1808  and  was  admitted  to  the  bar 
in  1812,  beginning  at  once  to  practise  law  in  Durham.  He 
removed  to  Portsmouth  about  181 8,  where  he  resided  till  his 
death,  19  October  1853.  He  was  one  of  the  ablest  lawyers  in 
the  State.  He  was  clerk  of  the  senate  in  1817  and  1818,  rep- 
resentative from  Portsmouth  seven  times  and  speaker  of  the 
house  in  1 82 1.  In  1822  he  was  elected  to  Congress  and  served  as 
representative  three  terms. 

James  Bartlett  was  born  in  Salisbury,  14  August  1792.  He 
graduated  at  Dartmouth  in  18 12  and  studied  law  with  his  brother, 
Ichabod  Bartlett,  in  Durham,  and  practised  in  partnership 
with  him  a  few  years.  He  was  appointed  registrar  of  probate 
for  Strafford  County  in  1819  and  removed  to  Dover.  He  married, 
28  June  1820,  Jane,  daughter  of  Joshua  Ballard  of  Durham. 
He  served  four  tefms  as  representative  from  Dover  in  the  legis- 
lature, 1823-26  and  as  State  senator,  1827-28.  He  married 
(2)  June  1 83 1,  Jane  M.,  daughter  of  George  Andrews  of  Dover. 

William  Boardman  was  born  in  Newmarket,  31  July  1779- 
He  was  educated  at  Phillips  Academy,  Exeter,  and  studied  law 
with  Ebenezer  Smith  in  Durham.  He  began  practice  in  Farm- 
ington  about  1806  and  within  two  years  returned  to  Newmarket, 
where  he  died  soon  after. 

Joseph  Clark  was  born  in  Columbia,  Conn.,  9  March  1759. 
and  graduated  at  Dartmouth  in  1785.  He  studied  law  with 
Gen.  John  Sullivan  and  began  practice  at  Rochester  about  1788. 
About  1810  he  removed  to  his  native  town,  where  he  died,  21 
December  1828. 

Nathaniel  Cogswell  was  born  in  Haverhill,  Mass.,  9  January 
1773.  He  graduated  at  Dartmouth  in  1794  and  studied  law 
with  Ebenezer  Smith  in  Durham.  He  commenced  practice  in 
Gilmanton,  in  1805,  and  removed  to  Newburyport,  Mass., 
about  1808,  where  he  died  in  1813  or  1814. 

Richard  Ela  was  the  son  of  Joseph  and  Sarah  (Emerson) 
Ela,  born  in  Lebanon,  21  February  1796.  He  studied  law  with 
Ichabod  Bartlett  in  Durham  and  was  admitted  to  the  bar  in 

277 


278  HISTORY    OF    DURHAM 

1819.  He  practised  law  in  Durham  from  1819  to  1830.  He 
removed  to  Portsmouth,  and  in  1835  he  was  appointed  to  a  posi- 
tion in  the  Treasury  Department  in  Washington.  He  died  in 
Washington,  D.  C,  8  January  1863. 

Peter  French  was  born  in  Sandown  in  1759.  He  graduated 
at  Harvard  in  1781.  He  studied  law  with  Gen.  John  Sullivan 
and  practised  for  a  short  time  in  Durham.    He  died  in  Maine. 

John  Ham  was  born  in  Dover,  30  December  1774.  He  gradu- 
ated at  Dartmouth  in  1797  and  studied  law  with  Ebenezer  Smith 
at  Durham.  He  was  admitted  to  the  bar  in  1800  and  began 
practice  at  Gilmanton,  where  he  died  7  March  1837.  He  served 
as  selectman,  member  of  the  legislature,  and  trustee  of  Gilman- 
ton Academy. 

Winthrop  Atkinson  Marston  was  born  in  Nottingham,  14 
June  1804.  He  studied  law  in  Durham,  in  the  office  of  Stephen 
Mitchell.  He  was  admitted  about  1829  and  practised  law  at 
Somersworth  and  Dover.  He  died  30  March  1850  at  Somers- 
worth. 

Stephen  Mitchell,  son  of  Benjamin  and  Martha  (Steele) 
Mitchell,  was  born  in  Peterborough,  29  March  1780.  He  gradu- 
ated at  Williams  College  in  1801  and  studied  law  with  his  uncle, 
Jonathan  Steele,  in  Durham,  where  he  began  practice  in  1805. 
In  behalf  of  his  townsmen  he  made  the  address  of  welcome  to 
Gen.  Lafayette,  in  the  summer  of  1825,  in  a  "very  handsome 
and  appropriate  manner."  He  taught  school  in  Durham  in 
1802.  He  married,  9  November  1809,  Sarah,  daughter  of 
Joseph  Mills  of  Deerfield,  born  22  June  1788.  He  died  in  Durham 
18  February  1833.  He  was  one  of  the  incorporators  of  Durham 
Academy  and  a  member  of  the  Congregational  Church,  whence 
he  and  his  wife  took  letters  in  1830,  recommending  them  to  the 
Episcopal  Church  in  Portsmouth. 

Moses  Parsons  was  born  in  Newbury,  Mass.,  13  May  1744. 
He  graduated  at  Harvard  in  1765  and  studied  law  with  Gen. 
John  Sullivan,  practising  in  Newmarket  and  Durham.  He  re- 
moved to  Amherst,  N.  H.,  in  1773,  and  was  a  delegate  from  that 
town  to  the  third  and  fourth  Provincial  Congresses.  He  is 
said  to  have  been  in  Kingston  in  1775,  in  Newmarket  in  1778 
and  in  Massachusetts  in  1779.  Governor  Bell  relates  the  fol- 
lowing story  about  him.  "When  he  was  once  about  to  return 
to  Durham  from  a  visit  to  his  father,  the  latter  gave  him  some 


HISTORY    OF    DURHAM  279 

seasonable  religious  advice.  'That  reminds  me,'  replied  the  son, 
rather  irreverently  "of  my  mortality.  I  have  one  request  to  make. 
If  I  die  at  Durham,  don't  bury  me  there.'  His  father  answered 
that  it  was  of  little  consequence  where  the  body  was  deposited, 
if  the  soul  was  properly  fitted  for  the  other  world.  'True,' 
responded  his  son,  'but  the  people  of  Durham  are  so  uncivilized 
and  quarrelsome  that  I  should  be  ashamed  to  be  seen  rising  in 
their  company  at  the  last  day.'" 

John  Adams  Richardson  was  born  in  Durham,  18  November 
1797.  He  was  son  of  Capt.  Joseph  Richardson,  who  was  born 
in  Boston,  25  December  1756,  and  married  Sarah  Hanson  of 
Dover.  He  graduated  at  Dartmouth  in  1819.  He  was  a  teacher 
in  Haverhill,  Mass.,  in  1818  and  1820  and  read  law  there  with 
John  Varnum.  He  was  admitted  to  the  bar  in  1823  and  at  once 
began  practice  in  his  native  town,  continuing  therein  till  his 
death,  25  August  1877.  In  1846  he  was  clerk  of  the  state  senate. 
In  the  latter  years  of  his  life  he  was  president  of  the  bar  associa- 
tion of  Strafford  County.  He  is  described  as  a  very  social  and 
gentlemanly  man,  having  a  fondness  for  the  peaceful  side  of  the 
law,  and  a  reader  of  general  literature.  He  married  (1)  Marcia 
A.,  daughter  of  Maj.  Alexander  and  Sally  (Adams)  Rice  of 
Kittery  and  had  two  daughters,  Marcia  and  Frances.  His 
first  wife  died  8  October  1832,  and  he  married  (2)  in  1835,  Mrs. 
Frances  J.,  daughter  of  Hon.  Daniel  Farrand  of  Burlington,  Vt., 
and  widow  of  Rev.  Thomas  J.  Murdock. 

Arthur  Rogers  was  the  son  of  Maj.  Robert  Rogers,  who  be- 
came celebrated  in  the  last  French  and  Indian  War  of  1754  as  a 
leader  of  a  company  of  rangers.  He  was  born  in  1770  and  studied 
law  with  Gen.  John  Sullivan  in  Durham  and  with  Edward  St. 
Loe  Livermore  of  Concord,  where  he  began  practice  in  1793. 
He  removed  to  Barrington  in  1794,  to  Pembroke  in  1797,  to 
Plymouth  in  1 800,  to  Pembroke  again  in  1803,  to  Concord  in 
1812  and  to  Portsmouth  in  1832,  where  he  died  in  1841. 

Hon.  Ebenezer  Smith  was  born  at  the  garrison  house  in  Lubber- 
land,  Durham,  13  March  1758,  son  of  Dea.  Ebenezer  Smith. 
He  was  educated  at  Dummer  Academy,  Byfield,  Mass.,  and 
studied  law  with  Gen.  John  Sullivan,  beginning  practice  in 
1783.  He  was  the  secretary  of  Gen.  Sullivan  while  the  latter 
was  a  member  of  Congress,  1780-81.  He  served  his  native  town 
as  moderator,  selectman  seven  years,  representative  six  years. 


280  HISTORY    OF   DURHAM 

He  was  councilor  two  years,  justice  of  the  Court  of  Common 
Pleas,  1784-87,  aide  on  the  staff  of  Governor  Gilman  in  1798, 
and  president  of  the  bar  association  of  Strafford  County  nearly 
twenty  years.  According  to  Governor  Bell  he  was  "very  sucess- 
ful  in  his  profession  and  became  one  of  the  most  prominent 
lawyers  in  his  section  of  the  State."  In  1783  he  purchased  the 
Thomas  Pinkham  residence  in  Durham  village  and  built  an 
office  west  of  the  house,  which  was  used  in  recent  times  as  a 
grocery  store  with  tenement  overhead.  This  real  estate  is  now 
owned  by  George  W.  Jennings  of  New  York.  Mr.  Smith  died 
in  Durham,  24  September  1831.    [See  Genealogical  Notes.] 

Hamilton  Smith,  born  in  Durham  19  September  1804,  grad- 
uated at  Dartmouth  College  in  1829  and  studied  law  in  Wash- 
ington, D.  C,  with  Levi  Woodbury,  senator  from  New  Hamp- 
shire, and  with  William  Wirt  of  Virginia.  In  1832  he  went  to 
Louisville,  Ky.,  where  he  practised  law  and  engaged  in  business 
enterprises,  being  president  of  corporations  that  owned  cotton 
mills  and  coal  mines.  He  removed  to  Cannelton,  Ind.,  in  1851. 
He  served  as  a  member  of  the  Indiana  legislature  in  1858  and 
was  a  delegate  to  the  National  Democratic  Convention  at 
Chicago  in  1864  and  to  the  similar  convention  at  New  York  in 
1868.  He  died  in  Washington,  D.  C,  7  February  1875,  after 
an  honorable  and  successful  career  in  law  and  business.  For 
family  see  Genealogical  Notes. 

Judge  Jonathan  Steele,  son  of  Capt.  David  and  Janet  (Little) 
Steele,  was  born  in  Londonderry,  N.  H.,  3  September  1760. 
He  studied  law  with  Gen.  John  Sullivan  and  was  admitted  to 
the  bar  in  1787,  practising  in  Nottingham  and  Durham.  He 
married,  Lydia,  only  daughter  of  Gen.  Sullivan.  He  first  rented 
a  small  house  near  the  Durham  ship  yard.  As  his  fortunes 
improved  he  bought  one  half  of  the  house  lot  of  Ephraim  Folsom 
deceased,  where  he  was  living  before  12  March  1790.  This 
house  was  burnt  in  1867  after  passing  into  the  possession  suc- 
cessively of  James  Durgin,  Jr.,  Dr.  Jedediah  Ingalls,  Samuel 
Dunster,  Ira  Cheney  and  Mrs.  Alfred  Chesley.  This  lot  was 
opposite  the  residence  of  Mrs.  Hamilton  Smith.  Judge  Steele 
served  some  time  as  clerk  of  court,  but  declined  the  position  of 
United  States  attorney  for  the  District  of  New  Hampshire.  He 
was  a  justice  of  the  Superior  Court  from  1810  to  1812,  but  the 
position  was  uncongenial  and  the  salary  was  insufficient.     So 


HISTORY    OF   DURHAM  "  251 

he  resigned  the  office  and  spent  his  last  days  in  the  practice  of 
law  in  Durham  and  in  the  care  of  his  farm  and  residence,  which 
he  built,  now  occupied  by  Mrs.  Joseph  W.  Coe.  He  is  said  to  have 
been  diffident  and  sensitive  to  criticism.  As  a  lawyer  he  had 
more  than  ordinary  learning  and  skill.  He  died  in  Durham, 
3  September  1824. 

David  Steele,  nephew  to  Judge  Steele,  was  born  in  Peter- 
borough 27  November  1793  and  studied  law  with  Stephen  Mitchell 
in  Durham.  He  was  admitted  to  the  bar  in  1824  and  settled  in 
New  Durham  in  1825.  He  removed  to  Dover  in  1850,  and  died 
there  6  July  1882. 

Jonathan  Steele,  another  nephew  of  Judge  Steele,  was  born  in 
Peterborough  8  February  1792  and  graduated  at  Williams  College 
in  181 1.  He  studied  with  Stephen  Mitchell  of  Durham  and 
Charles  H.  Atherton  of  Nashua.  He  was  admitted  in  1815 
and  practised  in  Epsom  and  Sandwich.  He  was  solicitor  of 
Rockingham  County,  1818-23  and  died  at  Epsom  September 
1858. 

Gen.  John  Sullivan,  who  was  the  most  prominent  lawyer 
Durham  ever  had,  needs  no  further  mention  here.  See  chapter 
on  Military  History. 

George  Sullivan,  son  of  Gen.  John  Sullivan,  was  born  in  Dur- 
ham 29  August  1 77 1.  He  graduated  at  Harvard  in  1790  and 
studied  law  with  his  father.  He  commenced  practice  at  Exeter 
in  1793  or  1794,  was  county  solicitor  in  1802,  representative 
in  1805  ,and  attorney  general  two  years.  In  181 1  he  was  elected 
a  member  of  Congress.  In  18 14-15  he  was  State  senator,  and 
served  again  as  attorney  general  from  18 15  till  his  resignation 
twenty  years  later.  He  died  at  Exeter,  14  April  1838.  Governor 
Bell  says,  "By  universal  consent  he  ranked  among  the  half 
a  dozen  foremost  lawyers  in  the  State. " 

John  Thompson  was  born  in  Durham  2  December  1801.  He 
was  educated  at  Phillips  Academy  and  Harvard,  where  he  was 
graduated  in  1822.  He  studied  law  with  Stephen  Mitchell  of 
Durham  and  with  Levi  Woodbury  of  Portsmouth.  In  1825  he 
established  himself  as  a  lawyer  in  Center  Harbor,  where  he  died, 
unmarried  22  January  1854.  His  house  took  fire  and,  in  trying 
to  save  a  chair  which  he  valued  as  a  gift  from  his  mother,  he 
perished  in  the  flames. 

James  Underwood  is  supposed   to  have  been   son  of  James 


2b2  HISTORY    OF    DURHAM 

Underwood  of  Litchfield.  He  read  law  in  the  office  of  Wiseman 
Clagett  of  Litchfield  and  in  that  of  Gen.  John  Sullivan.  He  was 
with  the  party  that  captured  the  stores  at  Fort  William  and 
Mary,  December  1774,  and  afterward  enlisted  in  the  army  and 
served  at  Cambridge.  In  1776  he  became  adjutant  of  Col. 
Joshua  Wingate's  regiment  raised  for  the  Canada  campaign. 
He  practised  law  in  Bedford  about  six  years  and  is  said  to  have 
become  insane. 

John  Sullivan  Wells,  son  of  Edward  and  Margery  (Hardy) 
Wells,  grandson  of  Theophilus  and  Margery  (Sullivan)  Hardy, 
was  born  in  Durham,  18  October  1803.  He  practised  law  in 
Lancaster  and  in  Exeter,  where  he  died  1  August  i860.  He  was 
admitted  to  the  bar  in  1828  and  first  practised  at  Guildhall, 
Vt.,  for  seven  years.  Thence  he  removed  to  Bangor,  Me.,  and 
in  1836  to  Lancaster.  He  soon  became  county  attorney  and 
served  two  terms.  He  was  representative  in  the  legislature, 
1839-41,  being  speaker  of  the  house  the  last  year.  He  was  ap- 
pointed attorney  general  in  1847  and  resigned  within  a  few 
months.  In  1851  and  1852  he  was  president  of  the  State  senate. 
In  January  1855  he  was  appointed  United  States  senator  to  fill 
a  vacancy  and  served  till  the  following  March.  He  was  a  candi- 
date for  Governor  in  1856  and  1857,  but  was  defeated.  Dart- 
mouth College  conferred  on  him  the  honorary  degree  of  A.  M. 
in  1857.  As  a  lawyer  he  was  successful,  and  he  was  distinguished 
for  his  work  as  jury  lawyer. 

John  Smith  Woodman  was  educated  for  the  law,  but  turned 
from  this  vocation  to  that  of  teaching  and  so  is  mentioned  else- 
where in  this  book. 

Col.  John  W.  Kingman,  who  once  lived  in  Durham,  in  the  Coe 
house,  practised  law  with  Daniel  M.  Christie  in  Dover.  He 
served  in  the  Civil  War  with  distinction  as  a  colonel.  He  married 
a  daughter  of  Mr.  Christie  and  removed  to  the  West,  serving  as 
United  States  judge  in  Wyoming  for  a  time.  He  then  removed 
to  Iowa  and  died  at  Cedar  Falls  at  the  age  of  82  years. 

James  F.  Joy  was  a  native  of  Durham,  who  became  a 
very  able  lawyer  in  Detroit,  Mich.  He  was  born  2  December 
1 8 10,  son  of  James  and  Sarah  (Pickering)  Joy.  He  was  gradu- 
ated at  Dartmouth  in  1833  and  studied  for  a  year  at  the  law 
school  of  Harvard.  He  then  taught  in  Pittsfield  Academy  and 
as   tutor  of  Latin  at   Dartmouth   College.      He  completed   his 


Hon.  James  F.  Joy 


284  HISTORY    OF   DURHAM 

studies  at  Harvard  and  in  1836  entered  the  law  office  of  Augustus 
B.  Porter  in  Detroit  and  was  admitted  to  the  bar  the  following 
year.  He  became  interested  in  railroad  construction  and  secured 
the  building  of  the  Michigan  Central,  and  also  organized  the 
Chicago,  Burlington  and  Quincy  Railroad.  Several  other  lines 
are  due  to  his  activity.  He  nominated  James  G.  Blaine  for  the 
presidency.  He  was  a  large  owner  of  real  estate  and  railroad 
stock  and  was  numbered  among  the  millionaires.  He  was  also 
a  classical  scholar  and  a  profound  student  of  railroad  law.  All 
this  did  not  hinder  his  serving  one  term  in  the  State  legislature 
nor  from  taking  an  active  part  in  the  Congregational  Church. 
Mr.  Joy  drew  the  will  of  Benjamin  Thompson,  his  cousin,  and 
was  one  of  the  executors  of  the  same.  He  came  on  and  gave  a 
public  address  in  the  State  House  at  Concord  in  behalf  of  the 
acceptance  of  the  terms  of  the  will,  thus  helping  to  secure  the 
College  of  Agriculture  and  Mechanic  Arts.  Mr.  Joy  received 
the  honorary  degree  of  LL.  D.  from  Harvard,  Iowa  University 
and  University  of  Michigan,  all  in  1869. 


PHYSICIANS 

The  records  are  not  abundant  concerning  those  who  have 
practised  medicine  in  Durham.  The  knowledge  we  have  is 
derived  from  incidental  mention  in  town  records  and  elsewhere. 

The  first  physician,  of  whom  we  have  any  knowledge,  was  the 
Rev.  John  Buss.  Most  of  the  ministers  of  his  time  had  some 
training  in  medicine  as  well  as  theology,  like  many  of  the  mis- 
sionaries now  sent  out  to  foreign  lands.  Hence  John  Buss  cared 
for  both  body  and  soul  in  Wells  and  Oyster  River.  In  a  deposi- 
tion, dated  1705,  he  is  called  Dr.  Buss.  He  lived  beyond  the 
age  of  ninety-eight,  and  the  town  assisted  in  his  support  in  his 
old  age  and  in  the  support  of  his  widow  for  many  years,  not  be- 
cause he  had  been  a  physician,  but  in  consideration  of  the  fact 
that  he  had  been  the  settled  minister. 

Dr.  Jonathan  Crosby  is  mentioned  22  October  1718,  when 
he  bought  land  of  James  and  Mary  Burnham.  He  sold  this 
land  to  the  Rev.  Hugh  Adams,  living  on  lot  adjoining.  The 
Dover  records  say  that  he  had  wife,  Hannah,  and  children  born 
as  follows:  Jonathan,  born  16  August  1719;  John,  born  3  October 
1 72 1,  and  Sarah,  born  18  January  1723/4.  His  marriage  in- 
tentions with  Mary  Dill  were  recorded  in  York,  Me.,  16  August 
1729,  and  he  had  children,  Daniel  and  Elizabeth,  baptized  in 
Dover,  4  July  1731.  Since  his  daughter,  Sarah,  was  baptized 
in  Dover  2  February  1724,  it  is  probable  that  he  removed  to 
Dover  before  that  date.  He  sold  his  eighteen  acres  at  Oyster 
River  to  Joseph  and  Samuel  Smith,  18  September  1722,  and 
bought  of  Joshua  Cromwell  twelve  acres  on  Dover  Neck,  21 
August  1723.  He  and  wife,  Mary,  sold  this,  16  July  1731,  to 
Nicholas  Hartford  and  probably  left  Dover  about  this  time. 
June  1,  1723,  the  House  and  Council  "allowed  Docf  Crosby 
for  administering  to  the  men  under  Capt.  Gilmans  Command 
as  per  his  ace*  on  file  £1,12,11." 

The  Rev.  Hugh  Adams  was  something  of  a  physician.  He 
makes  mention  of  practising  the  healing  art  at  Georgetown,  Me., 
on  the  famous  Sebastian  Rasles  before  he  settled  in  Durham. 
He  probably  taught  his  son,  Samuel,   the  greater  part  of  his 

285 


286  HISTORY    OF    DURHAM 

theoretical  knowledge  of  medicine,  and  Dr.  Crosby,  living  at 
the  next  house,  may  have  done  the  rest.     Cf.  pages  189-91. 

Dr.  Samuel  Adams  built  the  so-called  Sullivan  house  and 
practised  medicine  till  his  death  in  1762.  The  following  bill 
in  his  own  hand-writing,  has  been  preserved.  "March  the  25th 
1/59 — Sam11  Demerit  Dr  to  Sam11  Adams  for  a  visit  Blooding 
&  medicians  Aplyd  to  him  £5  =0  =  0  old  Tenor."  The  Province 
papers  mention  Dr.  Adams  repeatedly  as  ministering  to  soldiers. 
For  further  particulars  see  Genealogical  Notes. 

Dr.  Samuel  Merrow,  son  of  Henry  and  Jane  (Wallis,  or  Wal- 
lace) Merrow,  was  born  in  Reading,  Mass.,  9  October  1670.  His 
father  was  probably  one  of  the  Scotchmen  sent  to  Boston  in 
1 65 1.  Dr.  Samuel  Merrow  began  practice  in  Dover  about  1720 
and  lived  within  the  Oyster  River  parish  till  about  1733.  He 
removed  to  Rochester,  N.  H.,  and  died  there  about  1740. 

Dr.  Joseph  Atkinson  came  to  Durham  about  the  year  1734 
and  bought  the  Huckins  farm,  on  the  road  to  Madbury,  and 
probably  built  the  house  still  standing.  He  married  the  widow 
of  Timothy  Emerson  and  had  no  children.  He  married  (2), 
9  December  1777,  Elizabeth  Waldron  and  died  in  1780.  His 
widow  married,  15  June  1788,  John  Heard  Bartlett  of  Kittery, 
now  Eliot,  Me.  Dr.  Atkinson  was  one  of  the  selectmen  in  1742  and 
1743,  and  was  moderator  of  town  meetings  in  1762-64,  1771 , 
I773~74-  Judge  Ebenezer  Thompson,  who  studied  medicine 
with  him  and  settled  his  estate,  acquired  his  real  estate  by 
purchase  from  the  heirs,  and  perhaps  some  property  was  given 
by  Dr.  Atkinson  to  his  young  friend. 

The  Rev.  John  Adams  practised  medicine  to  some  extent, 
especially  after  he  removed  from  Durham  to  Newfield,  Me. 

Dr.  Stephen  Swett  was  born  in  that  part  of  Exeter  which  is 
now  Newmarket,  3  January  1733/4,  son  OI  Moses  and  Hannah 
(Swett)  Swett.  He  married,  8  August  1756,  Sarah,  daughter  of 
Dr.  Samuel  Adams,  and  probably  learned  the  arts  of  a  physician 
from  his  father-in-law.  He  is  named  in  1757  as  a  soldier  or 
militiaman  under  command  of  Samuel  Demeritt,  ordered  to  be 
fitted  and  ready  to  march  at  a  quarter  of  an  hour's  notice.  It 
is  probable  that  he  practised  medicine  in  Durham  to  some  extent, 
since  his  first  two  children  were  born  there.  He  lived  in  Pembroke 
and  Epsom,  N.  H.,  and  removed  to  Gorham,  Me.,  about  1770. 
Here  he  was  the  first  and  only  physician  for  many  years.     He 


HISTORY    OF    DURHAM  287 

served  as  surgeon  in  Col.  Edmund  Phinney's  Thirty-first  regi- 
ment of  foot  for  three  months  in  1775,  going  to  Cambridge, 
and  on  the  sixth  of  October  of  that  year  was  recommended  by 
Gen.  Washington  for  a  surgeon's  commission,  which  one  of  his 
descendants  still  possesses.  In  his  old  age  he  lived  for  a  short 
time  in  Windham,  Me.,  and  died  in  Otisfield,  Me.,  6  January 
1807,  at  the  house  of  his  son,  William,  who  was  then  keeping  a 
store  on  Otisfield  Hill.  He  has  a  host  of  descendants,  among 
them  the  writer  of  this  book.* 

Dr.  Samuel  Wigglesworth,  son  of  the  Rev.  Samuel  Wiggles- 
worth  of  Ipswich,  Mass.,  was  born  25  August  1734  and  was 
graduated  from  Harvard  in  1752.  After  practising  medicine 
in  Ipswich  a  short  time  he  removed  to  Dover  about  1768.  He 
was  evidently  living  in  Durham  in  1774,  for  then  "Dr.  Samuel 
Wigglesworth"  appears  as  one  of  the  Association  Test  Com- 
mittee. He  was  taxed  in  Durham  in  1777.  He  was  a  surgeon 
in  the  Revolutionary  Army,  in  two  different  regiments.  He 
married,  9  September  1779,  Mary,  daughter  of  George  Waldron 
of  Dover,  where  he  taught  school  and  practised  as  a  physician 
till  about  1792.    Then  he  settled  in  Lee,  where  he  died  about  1800. 

Dr.  Samuel  Shepard  is  mentioned  in  1762.  He  married  Eliza- 
beth Hill,  21  October  1761.  Perhaps  he  was  son  of  Samuel 
Shepard  who  married,  23  March  1726,  Margaret  Creighton  and 
had  son,  Samuel,  baptized  by  the  Rev.  Hugh  Adams,  24  December 
1727.  Dr.  Shepard  was  doubtless  the  same  who  taught  a  school 
in  Durham  in  1759,  for  whom  Dr.  Samuel  Adams  received  pay. 
June  24,  1765  Dr.  Samuel  Shepard  conveyed  to  John  Edgerly 
half  an  acre  of  land,  with  house  and  barn,  for  £1,500,  "on  ye 
southerly  side  of  ye  Falls  Hill,"  on  the  Mast  Road.  He  seems 
to  have  practised  medicine  in  Nottingham  at  the  time  of  the 
Revolution  and  afterward  to  have  been  a  Baptist  minister  at 
Brentwood.  Rev.  Samuel  Shepard  of  Brentwood  married 
Ursula  Pinkhamof  Madbury,  n  July  1781. 

Dr.  John  Angier  was  born  11  July  1761 ;  married  in  Durham, 
31  August  1794,  Rebecca  Drew,  born  10  March  1766.  The  fol- 
lowing children  are  recorded  in  the  town  book;  Sophia,  born 
5  June  1795;  John,  born  10  April  1797;  Luther,  born  23  March 
1799;  Calvin,  born  30  May  1801;  Charles,  born  14  March  1803, 

*See  my  Swett  Genealogy,  p.  42. 


288  HISTORY   OF   DURHAM 

and  Joseph,  born  24  April  1808.  He  lived  in  a  house  that  was 
moved  and  is  now  a  club  house,  near  the  college. 

Dr.  Jedediah  Ingalls  was  born  in  Andover,  Mass.,  26  July 
1768  and  graduated  at  Harvard  in  1793.  He  commenced  medical 
practice  in  Durham  in  1796  and  died  there  1  August  1847.  He 
married,  3  February  1802,  Eliza  Currier  of  Gilmanton.  She 
died  26  October  1851.  He  lived  just  across  the  street  from  the 
Hamilton  Smith  house,  in  a  house  that  was  burned  more  than 
thirty  years  ago.  He  had  a  large  practice  and  was  regarded  with 
popular  favor.  A  daughter,  Eliza,  married  Mr.  Doyle,  an 
engineer  on  the  B.  &  M.  R.  R.  Another  daughter,  Harriet, 
married  William  Fowler.  A  son,  Charles,  was  a  physician  in 
Andover,  Mass. 

Judge  Ebenezer  Thompson  was  also  a  physician.  [See  chapter 
on  Leaders  in  the  Past.] 

Dr.  Richard  Steele,  son  of  Judge  Jonathan  Steele,  was  born 
in  Durham,  6  January  1797.  He  was  graduated  from  Dart- 
mouth College  in  1815  and  from  the  Medical  College  in  1825.  He 
practised  medicine  successively  at  Portsmouth,  Durham,  Peter- 
borough, Dover,  Lowell,  Mass.,  Great  Falls,  N.  H.,  Boston  and 
Newbury  port.  He  returned  to  Dover  in  1867  and  died  there 
13  June  1869. 

John  Gilman  Pike,  son  of  Nathaniel,  grandson  of  John  and 
great-grandson  of  the  Rev.  James  Pike  of  Somersworth,  was 
born  in  Somersworth,  now  Rollinsford,  17  August  1817.  He  was 
graduated  at  Bowdoin  Medical  College  in  1847,  having  previ- 
ously studied  three  years  in  the  classical  department,  in  the  class 
of  1845.  He  practised  at  Durham,  1847-48;  Salmon  Falls, 
1848-68;  Boston,  Mass.,  1858-71,  and  resided  at  Dover,  N.  H., 
till  his  death,  31  July  1905. 

Dr.  Alphonso  Bickford,  son  of  Thomas  Bickford  of  Dover, 
was  born  12  December  181 7.  He  was  graduated  at  Bowdoin 
Medical  College  in  1837.  He  practised  in  Durham,  1837-48, 
whence  he  removed  to  Exeter,  thence  to  Boston  and  thence 
after  one  or  two  years  to  Dover.  He  was  Mayor  of  Dover  in 
1861  and  1862  and  Alderman  in  1866  and  1867.  He  was  a  skill- 
ful physician  and  had  an  extensive  practice.  He  died  in  Dover  31 
December  1869.  His  daughter  married  Elisha  R.  Brown  of 
Dover,  President  of  Strafford  National  Bank. 

Dr.  William  Parker  Sylvester  was  born  in  Charlestown,  Mass., 


HISTORY   OF   DURHAM  289 

2  July  1 82 1.  He  was  graduated  from  Bowdoin  Medical  College 
in  1847  and  practised  successively  at  Poland,  Me.,  North  Pownal 
Me.,  Durham,  before  1875,  Dover,  1875-78,  and  South  Sherborn, 
Mass.     He  died  18  September  1894. 


Alphonso  Bickford,  M.D. 

Dr.  Silver  is  said  to  have  practised  in  Durham  about  the  time 
of  the  Revolution.  There  was  later  a  Dr.  Flanders,  and  Dr. 
O.  G.  Cilley,  now  of  Boston,  Mass.,  practised  here.  Dr.  Wood- 
house  of  Barnstead  was  here  a  little  while  in  the  6o's. 

Dr.  Samuel  H.  Greene  son  of  Simon  P.  and  Mary  Augusta 
(Smith)  Greene,  was  born  12  February  1837  in  Newmarket; 
graduated  at  Harvard  Medical  College  in  i860,  and  the  same 
year  settled  in  Durham,  continuing  in  practice  here  six  years. 

19 


29O  HISTORY    OF   DURHAM 

He  removed  to  Newmarket  but  still  held  a  large  practice  in 
Durham.  He  was  a  selectman  of  Newmarket  six  years  and 
postmaster  eight  years  and  also  represented  the  town  in  the 
State  legislature.  He  married,  12  July  i860,  Mattie  Ross 
Baker,  daughter  of  Andrew  and  Mary  Jane  (Sawyer)  Baker 
and  had  one  son,  Walter  Bryant  Greene.  Dr.  Greene  died  at 
Newmarket  17  December  1911. 

Dr.  A.  E.  Grant  was  born  in  North  Berwick,  Me.,  30  July 
1873.  He  was  educated  in  the  public  schools  of  that  town  and 
in  Oak  Grove  Seminary,  Vassalboro,  Me.,  He  was  graduated 
from  Dartmouth  Medical  College  in  1896  and  settled  in  Durham 
1  March  1897,  where  he  still  resides.  Before  him  Dr.  James 
Roberts  and  other  physicians  lived  in  Durham  a  short  time. 


LEADERS    IN   THE   PAST. 

Some  who  properly  belong  in  this  class  have  been  sufficiently 
mentioned  in  previous  chapters.  Here  can  be  named  only  a  few 
of  those  who  were  prominent  in  the  civil  history  of  the  town  and 
in  business  activities.  Valentine  Hill,  merchant,  was  admitted 
to  church  in  Boston,  the  12th  of  4th  month,  1636,  and  was  made 
freeman,  13  May  1640.  He  had  a  brother,  John  Hill,  who  lived 
in  London  and  named  Valentine  and  other  relatives  in  his  will. 
He  was  proprietor,  town  officer  and  deacon  in  Boston,  member  of 
the  Ancient  and  Honorable  Artillery,  and  chief  owner  in  a  wharf. 
He  had  numerous  grants  of  land  by  the  town  of  Dover,  between 
1643  and  1652,  chief  of  which  were  a  large  tract  on  the  north  side 
of  the  mouth  of  Oyster  River,  the  mill  privilege  and  five  hundred 
acres  where  Durham  village  now  is,  and  the  mill  privilege  at 
Lamprey  River  with  accommodations  of  timber  on  land  a  mile 
wide  on  both  sides  of  the  river,  for  which  he  was  to  pay  to  the 
town  twenty  pounds  annually.  In  1660  "the  house  of  Mr.  Valen- 
tine Hill,  which  is  his  now  dwelling  house  at  Rocky  Point"  is 
mentioned  in  fixing  the  division  line  of  Oyster  River  parish. 
This  must  have  been  on  his  tract  at  the  mouth  of  the  river.  He 
had  a  house  also  at  the  Falls. 

Valentine  Hill  was  the  leading  man  of  Oyster  River  for  more 
than  a  dozen  years.  He  built  the  first  church.  He  was  a  select- 
man in  1651  and  1657.  He  was  deputy  to  the  General  Court  at 
Boston  from  1652  to  1657,  inclusive.  By  petition  of  the  inhabi- 
tants of  Dover  he  was  made  one  of  the  associate  judges  in  1652 
and  probably  continued  in  that  office  till  his  death  in  1661.  For 
further  particulars  concerning  him  see  incidental  mentions  in 
this  history  and  especially  the  Genealogical  Notes. 

Capt.  John  Woodman  came  from  Newbury,  Mass.,  as  early 
as  1656.  When  the  inhabitants  of  Oyster  River  petitioned  to 
be  made  a  separate  parish  they  sent  John  Woodman  to  represent 
them  at  the  General  Court.  He  was  selectman  of  Dover  seven 
years,  moderator  of  the  town  meeting  in  1675,  justice  of  the 
peace,  and  deputy  to  the  Provincial  Assembly  in  1684,  when 
resistance  was  made  to  the  oppression  of  Cranfield.  Upon  the 
overthrow  of  Andros,  a  convention  was  called  to  form  a  govern- 

291 


292  HISTORY   OF    DURHAM 

merit,  and  Capt.  John  Woodman's  name  appears  at  the  head  of 
the  Dover  delegation  of  six.  This  convention  drew  up  a  form  of 
government,  one  branch  of  which  was  to  be  a  Council,  and  in 
January  1690,  Mr.  Woodman  was  chosen  a  member  of  this  Coun- 
cil. He  was  again  provincial  deputy  from  1692  to  1696,  1699, 
1703,  to  the  time  of  his  death  in  1706.  He  was  also  justice  of 
the  peace  and  a  justice  of  the  Court  of  Common  Pleas,  1 702-1 706. 
He  held  a  commission  as  captain  prior  to  1690,  which  was  renewed 
several  times.  His  garrison  was  one  of  the  most  noted,  resisting 
all  attacks  and  continuing  till  it  was  accidentally  burned  in  1896. 
He  was  a  wise  and  trusted  leader  in  councils  of  war  and  of  peace. 
[See  Genealogical  Notes.] 

Col.  James  Davis  was  born  at  the  garrison  house  near  the 
mouth  of  Oyster  River,  23  May  1662,  and  died  at  the  same  place 
8  September  1749.  His  career  was  one  of  marked  activity  and 
leadership  and  shows  him  to  have  been  a  man  of  superior  abilities, 
which  were  readily  recognized  by  his  fellows.  His  name  gleams 
brightly  from  the  pages  of  colonial  military  history  and  appears 
upon  the  records  of  Xew  Hampshire  as  one  of  the  most  important 
in  the  formative  period  of  the  state.  He  participated  actively 
in  the  affairs  of  town  and  colony.  Before  reaching  the  age  of 
twenty  he  had  organized  and  led  scouting  parties  against  the 
Indians  for  the  defence  of  the  colony  and  had  received  the  rank 
of  lieutenant.  This  rank  was  recognized  by  the  Massachusetts 
government,  19  March  1689,  and  renewed  by  Governor  Usher,  20 
September  1692,  extending  through  the  period  of  King  William's 
War.  He  held  the  rank  of  captain  during  the  period  of 
Queen  Anne's  War.  In  the  spring  of  1703  he  was  on  a  scouting 
tour  in  the  lake  regions  of  New  Hampshire,  at  the  head  of  sixty 
men,  and  in  1704  he  took  part  in  an  expedition  against  the  French 
and  Indians  in  Maine,  for  which  he  received  a  special  award  of 
five  pounds  for  honorable  service.  On  the  18th  of  October  1707 
he  was  appointed  by  the  New  Hampshire  government  a  member 
of  the  Council  of  War.  In  June  1709  he  reported  that  one  of 
his  scouting  party  (Stevenson)  was  killed.  In  1710  he  had  com- 
mand of  another  scouting  party  of  1 10  men,  when  he  was  allowed 
nine  pounds  for  snowshoes  and  moccasins.  In  171 2  he  led  a  party 
of  370  men  for  five  months.  He  was  in  one  or  more  of  the  ex- 
peditions against  Port  Royal.  Before  1719  he  was  advanced  to 
the  rank  of  lieutenant-colonel,  and  in  1720  was  made  colonel. 


HISTORY    OF   DURHAM  293 

He  was  moderator  of  the  Dover  town  meetings  in  1702,  1713, 
1 715-17,  1720-21, 1 728-3 1,  and  moderator  of  the  first  town  meeting 
held  in  Durham,  1732,  in  which  capacity  he  served  at  nine  of 
the  following  meetings.  He  served  repeatedly  as  commissioner 
of  highways  and  assessor.  He  was  one  of  the  selectmen  of  Dover 
in  1698  and  1700-01.  He  also  was  deputy  to  the  General  Court, 
1697-1701,  and  1715-27.  He  was  justice  of  the  peace  and,  9 
December  1717,  was  appointed  judge  of  the  Court  of  Common 
Pleas,  which  office  he  held  at  the  time  of  his  death.  On  account 
of  disagreement  with  the  Rev.  Hugh  Adams  he  and  his  wife 
withdrew  from  the  church  at  Oyster  River  and  joined  the  church 
at  Dover,  in  1723. 

Col.  Davis  received  large  grants  of  land  in  Dover,  Durham, 
Madbury,  Rochester,  Barnstead,  Canterbury  and  Bow.  In 
1694  he  had  a  one-eighth  share  in  the  entire  Lamprey  River  for 
the  purpose  of  erecting  saw-mills.  His  lands  and  riches  he  dis- 
tributed among  his  sons  and  daughter.  [See  his  will  and  Genea- 
logical Notes.]  Altogether  he  was  the  most  prominent  man  of 
his  time  in  Durham,  and  few  were  his  equals  in  the  Province  of 
New  Hampshire.  Strength,  courage,  conscientiousness,  intelli- 
gence, enterprise  and  an  iron  will  mark  his  career. 

Capt.  Francis  Mathes  was  the  leading  man  at  the  "Point" 
for  many  years.  He  served  as  selectman  in  Dover  thirteen  years 
and  four  years  in  Durham.  He  was  deputy,  or  representative, 
1728-30  and  1731-32,  and  moderator  in  1728.  He  was  the  town 
clerk  of  Durham  from  its  first  meeting,  26  June  1732,  until  29 
March  1736.  He  is  called  "Sargent"  in  1707,  "Ensign"  in  1714, 
"Captain"  in  1728.  Frequent  and  honorable  mention  is  made 
of  his  services  in  the  State  and  Provincial  Papers.  He  was  active 
in  religious  affairs,  promoting  the  building  of  a  meeting  house  at 
Durham  Point,  on  his  own  land,  and  he  sought  to  make  the  Point 
District  a  separate  parish  in  1739.  He  was  one  of  the  proprietors 
of  Rochester  and  was  chosen  chairmen  of  its  first  board  of  select- 
men, in  1727.  Some  of  the  meetings  of  the  proprietors  were 
held  in  Durham.    [See  Genealogical  Notes  for  further  particulars.] 

Capt.  Jonathan  Thompson's  name  appears  on  the  muster  roll 
of  Capt.  James  Davis  in  17 12.  He  was  selectman  in  Dover, 
1729-30,  and  in  Durham,  1 732-4 j  and  1746.  He  acted  as 
moderator  in  1733,  1737  and  1745.  He  was  representative  in 
the  General  Court,  1741-44  and  1748-51,  when  he  served   on   a 


294  HISTORY    OF   DURHAM 

large  number  of  committees.  He  was  a  deacon  in  the  church 
during  the  pastorate  of  the  Rev.  Hugh  Adams  but  withdrew  and 
joined  the  church  at  Dover  when  the  Rev.  John  Adams  became 
pastor.     He  died  in  1757,  aged  about  64. 

Col.  Samuel  Smith,  son  of  Joseph,  was  born  16  June  1687, 
and  lived  on  the  ancestral  farm  on  the  north  side  of  Oyster  River, 
where  he  died  2  May  1760.  He  was  selectman  of  Dover  in  1727- 
28  and  1731-32,  and  was  chairman  of  the  first  board  of  selectmen 
in  Durham,  1732,  being  reelected  in  1734,  1735,  1737  and  from 
1744  to  1752  inclusive.  Five  times  he  served  as  moderator  of 
town  meetings.  He  was  town  clerk  from  29  May  1736  until  his 
death.  He  was  councilor  from  13  January  1742  till  2  May  1760. 
He  also  served  as  colonel  in  the  militia. 

Hon.  John  Smith,  3d,  was  born  24  December  1737,  called 
"Master"  John  Smith  from  the  fact  that  he  taught  school.  He 
inherited  the  Smith  homestead  nearly  opposite  the  Sullivan 
monument,  where  later  lived  Maj.  Seth  H.  Walker  and,  more 
recently,  John  Drew.  He  died  24  May  1791.  He  was  town  clerk 
1774-91,  dying  in  office.  He  was  selectman  thirteen  years, 
beginning  with  1766,  and  representative  from  1776  till  1782. 
He  was  a  member  of  the  town's  Committee  of  Correspondence, 
Inspection  and  Safety,  1774-79,  delegate  to  the  third  congress 
at  Exeter,  1775,  clerk  of  the  House  of  Representatives,  1781-83, 
member  of  the  New  Hampshire  Committee  of  Safety,  1776-77 
and  1781-84.  He  was  justice  of  the  peace  after  1780  and  regis- 
trar of  deeds  for  Strafford  County,  1 781-91.  A  petition  that  he 
be  appointed  justice  of  the  peace  was  signed  by  eighty-one  of  his 
townsmen,  stating  that  he  was  a  "Gentleman  who  has  not  only 
distinguished  himself  as  a  patriot  but  from  his  early  youth  by  an 
upright  and  irreproachable  conduct  gained  the  Esteem  and  Con- 
fidence of  all  his  fellow  citizens  who  have  had  the  pleasure  of  his 
acquaintance."  It  adds,  "The  proficiency  he  has  made  in  Litera- 
ture is  not  equalled  by  many."     [See  N.  H.  Town  Papers,  XI, 

592-94-1 

Hon.  George  Frost,  born  at  Newcastle  26  July  1720,  was  son 
of  Hon.  John  and  Mary  (Pepperrell)  Frost.  Upon  the  organiza- 
tion of  Strafford  County,  in  1773,  he  was  appointed  one  of  the 
associate  justices  of  the  Court  of  Common  Pleas  and  held  that 
office  till  1791,  for  the  last  few  years  being  chief  justice.  He  was 
delegate  to  the  Continental  Congress  in  1777,  1778  and   1779, 


HISTORY    OF   DURHAM  295 

councilor  in  New  Hampshire,  1780-84,  moderator  of  town  meet- 
ings seven  times,  selectman  four  times.  He  was  delegate  to  the 
fourth  Provincial  Congress  convened  at  Exeter  17  May  1775. 
He  was  also  a  member  of  the  town's  Committee  of  Correspondence 
Inspection  and  Safety.  He  lived  in  the  Smith  garrison  at 
Lubberland,  having  married  Margaret,  widow  of  Dea.  Ebenezer 
Smith.     [See  Genealogical  Notes.] 

Judge  Ebenezer  Thompson  was  born  in  Durham  5  March 
1737.  He  studied  medicine  but  soon  abandoned  medical  practice 
for  public  duties.  He  was  elected  one  of  the  selectmen  at  the 
age  of  twenty-eight  and  held  that  office  ten  years,  by  annual 
reelection.  He  also  represented  for  ten  years  the  town  of  Durham 
in  the  General  Assembly  at  Portsmouth,  beginning  this  service 
in  1766.  He  took  an  active  part  in  the  events  that  led  up  to 
the  American  Revolution.  He  was  among  those  who  seized  the 
military  stores  at  Fort  William  and  Mary,  14  December  1774, 
for  which  he  was  deprived  of  his  commission  as  justice  of  the 
peace.  He  was  a  member  of  all  the  Provincial  Congresses  that 
met  at  Exeter  and  acted  as  clerk,  and  after  the  formation  of  a 
state  government  he  was  the  first  secretary  of  State,  reappointed 
for  eleven  years  in  succession.  He  was  also  clerk  of  the  senate 
from  1776  to  1786.  He  was  secretary  of  the  State  Committee  of 
Safety  all  through  the  Revolutionary  War  and  was  also  a  member 
of  the  Durham  Committee  of  Correspondence,  Inspection,  and 
Safety.  He  was  one  of  the  committee  to  draw  up  a  plan  of  govern- 
ment for  New  Hampshire  and  to  frame  a  constitution.  He  held 
the  office  of  councilor  for  five  years.  He  was  a  commissioner  to 
meet  delegates  from  other  states  at  New  Haven  in  1778.  He 
was  employed  to  settle  the  boundaries  of  several  towns,  being  an 
expert  land  surveyor  and  draughtsman.  He  drew  the  plans  for 
the  church  built  at  Durham  in  1792.  Twice  he  was  appointed 
to  represent  the  State  of  New  Hampshire  in  the  Continental 
Congress,  but  he  declined  these  honors  because  of  feeble  health. 
He  was  State  senator,  justice  of  the  Inferior  Court  of  Common 
Pleas  and  in  1795  justice  of  the  Superior  Court  of  Judicature. 
In  1796  he  accepted  the  office  of  judge  of  the  Court  of  Common 
Pleas  for  Strafford  County  and  held  it  till  his  death  in  1802.  In 
the  midst  of  all  these  cares  of  State  he  found  time  to  serve  his  town 
as  clerk  for  eighteen  years,  selectman,  assessor  of  taxes,  commis- 
sioner and  auditor,  besides  being  on  most  of  the  committees  of 


296 


HISTORY    OF   DURHAM 


the  parish  and  acting  as  one  of  the  school  committee.  He  was 
often  consulted  for  legal  advice,  though  he  never  was  admitted 
to  the  bar.  He  was  one  of  the  presidential  electors  at  the  choice 
of  Washington  and  also  of  Adams.  No  native  of  Durham  has 
held  so  many  public  offices  nor  won  more  esteem  from  his  fellow 


Judge  Valentine  Smith 


citizens.     His  record  is  one  of  honesty,  patriotism,  unusual  ability 
and  usefulness.* 

Judge  Valentine  Smith  was  born  in  Durham  (Lubberland) 
26  May  1774,  son  of  Dea.  John  Smith,  and  died  2  March  1869. 
He  was  town  clerk  twenty-eight  years,  from  1802  to  1819,  and 
from  1827  to  1838.     Besides  being  teacher  and  surveyor  he  served 

*Sea  Memoir  published  by  Miss  Mary  P.  Thompson. 


HISTORY    OF   DURHAM 


297 


as  selectman  eleven  years  and  as  representative  six  years.  He  was 
justice  of  the  Court  of  Common  Pleas,  1819-21,  chief  justice  of 
Sessions,  1822-25,  and  was  for  fifty-six  years  a  justice  of  the 
peace.  He  was  interested  and  helpful  in  the  church,  in  education 
and  in  the  Durham  Social  Library,  a  highly  useful  citizen 

Hon.  Stephen  DeMeritt  was  born  19  December  1806,  and  died 
27  January  1867.     He  took  an  active  part  in  town  affairs  and 


Hon.  Stephen  DeMeritt 


was  often  employed  in  the  settlement  of  estates,  being  named 
in  1856  as  one  of  the  executors  of  Benjamin  Thompson's  will. 
He  died,  however,  before  Mr.  Thompson.  He  served  as 
moderator  in  town  meetings  seven  times,  and  selectman  in 
1836,  1837,  1841,  1843,  1844,  and  1850.  He  represented  the 
town  in  the  legislature  in  1837,  1838,  and  1844,  once  being 
unanimously  elected,   and  was  State   senator   in    1845.     He  is 


298  HISTORY    OF    DURHAM 

remembered  as  honest,  able  and  popular,  a  strong  friend  of  the 
temperance  cause  and  a  man  whose  influence  was  for  the  good 
of  the  town.     [See  Genealogical  Notes.] 

Prof.  John  Smith  Woodman  was  born  6  September  1819,  and 
died  9  May  1 87 1.  He  fitted  for  college  at  South  Berwick  Academy 
and  was  graduated  at  Dartmouth  in  1842,  after  which  he  studied 
law  with  John  A,  Richardson,  Esq.,  and  with  Hon.  Daniel 
M.  Christie.  Meanwhile,  he  taught  four  years  in  Charleston, 
S.  C,  and  went  abroad,  traveling  for  more  than  a  year  in  France, 
Belgium,  Holland,  Switzerland,  and  Italy,  publishing  his  Obser- 
vations in  the  New  Hampshire  Patriot  and  the  Charleston  News. 
He  made  a  special  study  of  art  and  agriculture.  He  was  ad- 
mitted to  the  bar  in  1848  and  opened  an  office  at  Salmon  Falls. 
In  1850  he  was  appointed  commissioner  of  schools  for  Strafford 
County.  In  January  1851  he  was  chosen  professor  of  mathe- 
matics in  Dartmouth  College  and  in  1857  was  made  professor  of 
civil  engineering,  to  have  general  charge  of  the  Chandler  Scien- 
tific Department  of  Dartmouth  College. 

Meanwhile  he  had  served  as  commissioner  of  schools  for 
Grafton  County  with  remarkable  success.  After  twenty  years 
of  service  in  the  Scientific  Department  of  Dartmouth  he  retired 
because  of  ill  health  and  went  to  Florida  for  a  short  time.  He 
returned  to  Durham  and  to  the  old  Woodman  homestead  to  end 
his  days  and  was  buried  in  the  Woodman  cemetery.  He  was 
probably  the  most  prominent  and  successful  educator  that  Dur- 
ham has  produced.  His  property,  amounting  to  some  $20,000, 
was  bequeathed  to  the  institution  he  had  served  so  long  and  well. 

Benjamin  Thompson  was  born  at  Durham  22  April  1806, 
and  died  there  30  January  1890.  He  was  never  married.  His 
father  was  Benjamin,  and  his  grandfather  was  Judge  Ebenezer 
Thompson,  mentioned  heretofore.  He  inherited,  among  other 
property,  his  father's  residence  in  Durham  village,  with  neigh- 
boring lands,  and  the  so-called  "Warner  farm,"  originally  a  part 
of  the  500  acres  granted  to  Valentine  Hill.  By  strict  economy 
and  good  management  in  the  course  of  half  a  century  he  in- 
creased his  property  to  over  $400,000.  He  taught  school  two 
terms  in  his  youth.  Xo  public  office  was  held  by  him  save  that 
of  auditor  one  year.  He  was  never  strong  physically.  Nearly  all 
his  property  was  willed  to  the  State  of  New  Hampshire  in  trust, 
"The  object  of  this  devise  being  to  promote  the  cause  of  agri- 


HISTORY   OF    DURHAM 


299 


culture  by  establishing  ...  an  agricultural  school  to  be 
located  on  my  Warner  farm,  so  called,  and  situated  in  said  Dur- 
ham, wherein  shall  be  thoroughly  taught,  both  in  the  school-room 
and  in  the  field,  the  theory  and  practice  of  that  most  useful  and 
honorable  calling."     The  real  estate  so  bequeathed  was  valued 


Eenjamin  Thompson 


at  $17,100,  and  the  Benjamin  Thompson  Trust  Fund  amounted 
to  $363,  823.  Thus  he  very  wisely  chose  to  perpetuate  his 
memory  by  honoring  his  native  town  and  conferring  blessings 
upon  untold  generations. 

Hamilton  Augustus  Mathes  was  born   16  July   1843,  son  °f 
John  and  Pamela  (Mathes)  Mathes,  and  died  2  December  1891. 


300  HISTORY    OF   DURHAM 

He  was  educated  at  Colby  Academy,  New  London.  He  filled 
various  offices  in  the  town  of  Durham,  being  moderator  of  town 
meetings  seven  times,  selectman  in  1871-72,  supervisor  1878-82, 
and  treasurer,  1872,  1885  to  1890.  He  was  one  of  the  prime 
movers  in  establishing  the  Durham  Social  Library  and  was  its 
president  till  his  death,  in  ten  years  having  missed  only  one 
meeting  of  the  board.     He  began  to  manufacture  brick  at  the 


Hamilton  A.   Mathe's 

age  of  twenty-one  and  the  last  year  of  his  life  he  sold  8,000,000 
of  bricks.  He  was  president  of  the  Pascataqua  Navigation  Com- 
pany, which  he  helped  to  organize.  He  lived  at  Durham  Point 
till  about  1883,  when  he  removed  to  the  village.  He  employed 
about  200  men  in  his  five  brickyards.  He  was  actively  interested 
in  the  work  of  the  Grange  and  was  an  influential  member  of  the 
Congregational  Society. 


HISTORY   OF   DURHAM  301 

Miss  Mary  Pickering  Thompson  was  born  in  Durham  19 
November  1825,  and  died  there  6  June  1894,  daughter  of 
Ebenezer  and  Jane  (Demeritt)  Thompson,  great-grand-daughter 
of  Judge  Ebenezer  Thompson.  After  studying  at  Deny  and 
Durham  Academies,  where  she  took  first  rank,  she  attended 
Mount  Holyoke  Female  Seminary,  where  she  graduated  with 
honor  in  1845.  A  little  later  she  took  post-graduate  studies  at 
the  same  institution,  then  under  charge  of  that  famous  educator, 
Mary  Lyon.  She  taught  at  Oakland  Female  Seminary,  Hills- 
borough, Ohio,  and  at  Aberdeen,  Ohio.    Here,  in  1847,  she  asked 


Miss  Mary  Pickering  Thompson 

for  a  letter  from  the  Congregational  Church  in  Durham  to  the 
Presbyterian  Church  in  Maysville,  Ky.,  just  across  the  river 
from  Aberdeen.  Her  request  was  refused  on  the  ground  that 
"Maysville  is  in  a  slave  state,  and  the  Presbyterian  church 
there  probably  has  members  who  are  slave  holders."  This 
refusal  led  her  to  study  into  ecclesiastical  questions,  and  the 
result  was  that  she  united  with  the  Roman  Catholic  Church 
and,  31  August  1847,  she  entered  the  Notre  Dame  Convent 
at  Cincinnati,  Ohio.  She  taught  for  a  while  in  the  Ursuline 
Convent  at  Galveston,  Tex.,  and   she  was  one  year,  as  vice- 


302  HISTORY    OF    DURHAM 

president,  at  St.  Mary's  Female  Seminary,  Md.  During  the 
years  1854-56  and  again  in  1873-77  sne  traveled  in  France, 
Italy,  Switzerland,  Germany,  Austria,  Spain,  Belgium,  and 
Holland.  The  rest  of  the  time  during  this  period  and  there- 
after she  spent  in  literary  work  at  the  house  which  she  purchased 
in  Durham  village,  and  in  such  work,  which  was  her  delight,  she 
excelled  in  quantity  and  quality.  She  contributed  one  hundred 
and  thirty-five  articles  to  the  Catholic  World,  historical,  biograph- 
ical, descriptive  and  religious,  besides  many  newspaper  contri- 
butions. She  was  specially  interested  in  everything  that  pertained 
to  her  native  town  and  to  ancient  Dover,  and  she  devoted  years 
to  research  work  among  the  New  Hampshire  Province  Deeds, 
Probate  Records,  and  Court  Records,  original  and  copious  sources 
of  historical  information.  The  records  of  Durham  and  Dover 
were  minutely  examined  by  her.  Wherever  she  looked  scarcely 
anything  seems  to  have  escaped  her  notice.  The  new  things  of 
this  history  of  Durham  have  been  derived  from  sources  printed 
or  indexed  since  her  death  or  from  examination  of  places  which 
she  could  not  visit.  She  gathered  up  a  great  amount  of  inter- 
esting and  valuable  folk-lore  and  interwove  it  with  the  facts  of 
history,  so  as  to  make  everything  she  wrote  interesting  as  a  novel. 
The  beauty  of  her  style  arises  from  the  fact  that  she  knew  so 
much  to  say  and  the  study  of  several  languages  enabled  her  to 
choose  the  appropriate  word,  while  her  knowledge  of  general 
literature  is  attested  by  constant  allusions  to  standard  prose  and 
poetical  works.  Her  Landmarks  in  Ancient  Dover  is  a  compen- 
dium of  refined  knowledge,  indispensable  to  the  historian  and  full 
of  interest  to  the  general  reader.  It  was  completed  in  the  midst 
of  physical  pain,  yet  the  whole  work  is  joyous.  Her  Memoir  of 
Judge  Ebenezer  Thompson  shows  a  proper  family  pride  and  is  a 
loving  tribute  to  the  memory  of  a  distinguished  ancestor.  Dur- 
ham has  produced  many  honorable  and  able  men  and  women, 
but  no  one  of  them  has  done  more  for  the  town  and  merits  more 
gratitude  and  praise  than  Mary  Pickering  Thompson.  I  know 
her  only  in  the  spirit,  and  I  wish,  with  many  others,  that  she  could 
have  lived  to  write  this  history  of  Durham,  as  was  her  desire 
and  intention.  Certainly  she  has  contributed  more  than  any 
other  to  make  it  as  full  and  accurate  as  it  is.  Durham  owes  to 
her  some  permanent  memorial. 

Dea.  John  Emerson  Thompson,  born  25  September  18 15,  was 


HISTORY    OF    DURHAM 


303 


the  son  of  Dea.  John  Thompson  and  the  great-great-grandson 
of  Dea.  Jonathan  Thompson.  Thus  this  family  has  rendered 
distinguished  service  to  the  church.  He  served  as  deacon  from 
the  year  1870  till  his  death,  10  January  1892.  His  father  held 
that  office  forty  years.  The  latter  was  a  master  carpenter  and 
built  three  meeting  houses,  one  of  them  being  the  church  erected 
in  Durham  in  1792.     His  ancestor,  the  first  John  Thompson  of 


Deacon  John  Thompson 


Durham,   built  the  historic  meeting  house  on  the  same  spot, 
about  1712. 

Dea.  John  E.  Thompson  had  a  ready  and  tenacious  memory 
and  was  fond  of  relating  stories  of  old  times  and  people.  He 
lived  about  a  mile  from  the  village,  near  to  the  Jabez  Davis 
garrison.  He  is  remembered  as  a  staunch  supporter  of  the  church 
and  a  useful  and  honored  citizen.  He  held  the  office  of  select- 
man  in    1862.     The   most   of   the   old   shade   trees   in   Durham 


304 


HISTORY    OF   DURHAM 


Village,  especially  along  the  street  next  the  New  Hampshire 
College  land,  were  grown  and  set  out  by  him  and  are  a  good 
memorial.     For  family  see  Genealogical  Notes. 

Dea.  Albert  Young  was  born  in  Durham  3  February  1837, 
and  died  21  September  1910.  He  was  son  of  Daniel  and  Hannah 
(Chesley)  Young.     His  father  was  a  soldier  in  the  War  of  18 12 


Deacon  John  Emerson  Thompson 


and  afterward  kept  the  toll-gate  on  the  New  Hampshire  Turn- 
pike, where  Edward  A.  Marston  now  resides,  and  had  a  tan  yard 
on  the  Fowler  land  easterly.  Dea.  Young  was  educated  in 
Durham  and  Strafford  Academies.  He  was  an  incorporator  of 
the  Christian  Society  in  Durham  and  for  many  years  was  an 
active  leader  in  that  denomination.     After  services  ceased   in 


HISTORY    OF    DURHAM  305 

the  brick  church  he  united  with  the  Congregational  church  and 
was  made  a  deacon  therein  in  1894,  which  office  he  held  until  ill 
health  compelled  him  to  resign.  He  managed  a  shoe  shop  and 
a  good  farm,  the  old  estate  of  maternal  ancestry.  He  served  as 
selectman.  He  was  also  an  Odd  Fellow  and  a  charter  member  of 
Scammell  Grange.     For  years  he  was  president  of  the  George 


Deacox  Albert  Young 

Ffrost  Temperance  Society.  His  memory  was  remarkable  and 
he  could  tell  much  about  the  old  residents  and  houses  of  Durham. 
He  was  a  man  of  deep  and  staunch  moral  convictions,  unselfish 
and  devoted  especially  to  home  life.  Patient  and  uncomplain- 
ing through  years  of  ill  health,  he  left  behind  the  memory  of  an 
upright  citizen  and  loyal  friend.  He  left  one  daughter,  Mary  E., 
20 


HISTORY    OF   DURHAM 


307 


born  4  August  1869,  who  married  24  April  1893,  Charles  A.  Smart, 
and  has  a  son,  Albert  Monroe  Smart,  born  5  December  1907. 

Thomas  H.  Wiswall  was  born  in  Exeter  28  January  1817,  son  of 
Thomas  and  Sarah  (Trowbridge)  Wiswall.  He  was  educated  in 
Exeter  schools  and  Wakefield  Academy  and  began  apprenticeship 
at  the  age  of  sixteen  in  his  father's  paper-mill  at  Exeter.  He 
left  Exeter  in  1846  and  for  five  years  had  charge  of  a  paper-mill 


Thomas  H.  Wiswall 


at  Dover,  after  which  he  was  employed  two  years  in  the  Russell 
paper-mill  at  Exeter.  In  1853  Mr.  Wiswall  removed  to  Durham 
and  in  partnership  with  Isaac  Flagg,  Jr.,  the  son  of  his  father's 
partner,  purchased  a  saw-mill  on  the  Lamprey  River,  in  that  part 
of  Durham  known  as  Packer's  Falls. 

Here  may  be  the  proper  place  to  say  a  few  words  respecting 
the  industries  of  this  region.     In  1835  the  original  dam  and  a 


3o8 


HISTORY    OF   DURHAM 


saw-mill  were  built  by  Moses  Wiggin,  and  another  building  was 
added  for  a  grist  and  flour  mill,  both  two-story  buildings.  In 
the  second  story  of  the  saw-mill  gingham  cloth  and  blankets  were 
manufactured  by  a  Mr.  Talbot.  Other  articles  manufactured  in 
these  mills  were  shoe  knives,  hoes,  pitch  forks,  wooden  measures, 
nuts,  bolts,  bobbins,  ax  handles,  hubs,  carriages,  sleighs,  chairs, 
matches,  and  spokes,  by  various  persons.  In  1854  Moses  Wiggin 
built  a  canal  and  purchased  the  old  Brooks  machine  shop  which 
formerly  stood  where  Elmer  Kent's  stable  is  now,  opposite  Lang's 
blacksmith  shop  in  Newmarket.  This  building  was  removed  to 
Wiggin's  Falls,  then  so  called,  and  was  the   original   paper-mill, 


Wiswall's  Paper  Mill 


a  building  34  by  80  feet.  It  was  leased  the  same  year,  with  water 
power,  to  Messrs.  Wiswall  and  Flagg.  After  three  months  Mr. 
Flagg  sold  his  interest  to  Howard  Moses,  and  he  soon  sold  out 
to  his  father,  C.  C.  P.  Moses,  and  the  business  continued  under 
the  name  of  T.  H.  Wiswall  &  Co.,  until  the  death  of  Mr.  Moses 
in  August  1883.  Previous  to  this  Mr.  Wiswall  had  acquired  full 
ownership  of  all  the  mills,  and  gradually  all  other  manufactures 
ceased,  and  paper  became  the  sole  product.  Additions  to  the 
mill  were  made,  including  an  L,  15  by  20  feet,  and  a  stock  house 
was  built,  30  by  50  feet.  In  1868  a  completely  new  dam  was  built. 
Houses  were  erected  for  the  workmen,  and  a  store  was  kept  by 


HISTORY    OF   DURHAM  309 

Austin  Doeg.  This  continued  to  be  the  busiest  spot  in  town 
till  1  November  1883,  when  the  paper-mill  and  all  adjoining  build- 
ings were  totally  destroyed  by  fire.  Only  the  dam  and  saw-mill 
were  kept  in  use  till  the  spring  of  1896,  when  a  freshet  swept  a 
portion  of  the  dam  away.  November  25,  1899,  the  privilege  was 
sold  to  James  W.  Burnham,  president  of  the  Newmarket  Electric 
Light,  Heat  and  Power  Company,  and  an  electric  power  station 
was  built  at  once,  Durham  seeing  its  first  electric  light,  20 
February  1900,  in  the  houses  of  James  W.  Burnham,  Mrs.  Sarah 
J.  Woodman  (the  Highland  House),  and  the  Griffiths  brothers. 
The  plant  has  been  owned,  since  7  April  1912,  by  the  New- 
market Electric  Light  Company,  and  a  concrete  dam  and  head 
gates  have  been  built. 

Mr.  Wiswall  married,  22  June  1841,  Miss  Hannah  Thing  of 
Brentwood.  He  was  a  deacon  in  the  Congregational  church  at 
Newmarket,  director  of  the  Newmarket  Bank  and  representative 
from  Durham  in  1872  and  1873.  He  retired  from  active  business 
in  1883,  and  died  7  March  1906.1 

Hamilton  Smith,  although  born  in  Louisville,  Ky.,  5  July  1840, 
regarded  Durham  as  his  own  home  as  well  as  the  home  of  a  long 
line  of  ancestors.  Here  he  built  his  summer  residence  and  here 
he  died,  4  July  1900,  while  on  a  sail  down  Oyster  River.  He 
became  an  expert  mining  engineer.  His  office  was  for  years  in 
London  and  later  in  New  York.  He  was  interested  in  mines  in 
South  America,  Alaska  and  South  Africa,  as  well  as  in  the  United 
States.  He  published  a  book  on  hydraulics,  a  treatise  on  "The 
Cost  of  Mining  and  Milling  Free  Gold  Ores,"  and  papers  writ- 
ten at  different  times  on  "The  Flow  of  Water  through  Pipes," 
"Water  Power  at  High  Pressure,"  and  "The  Temperature  of 
Water  at  Various  Depths."  An  obituary  notice  spoke  of  him 
as  "one  of  the  world's  great  mining  experts."  He  gave  $10,000 
for  the  Valentine  Smith  Scholarships  in  New  Hampshire  College, 
and  his  widow  gave  as  much  more  for  the  dormitory  for  young 
ladies,  called  Smith  Hall.  Both  were  very  fond  of  Durham, 
and  their  beautiful  private  grounds  were  open  to  all.  Mrs. 
Alice  Smith  survived  her  husband  and  died  in  Washington,  D.  C, 
15  March  1906.  Both  were  buried  in  a  chapel  built  on  their 
Durham  estate.     They  were  highly  esteemed  by  the  people  of 

'The  material  for  the  above  sketch  was  kindly  furnished  by  Col.  Arioch  W.  Griffiths. 


3io 


HISTORY    OF    DURHAM 


Durham  and  will  long  be  remembered  for  their  kindness  and 
generosity. 

Ebenezer  Thompson  was  born  in  Durham  15  August  1821, 
and  died  15  May  1869.  He  was  a  man  of  keen,  active  mind 
and  intelligent  tastes.  He  was  educated  in  the  academies  of 
New  London,  South  Berwick  and  Andover.     He  was  specially 


Hamilton  Smith 


familiar  with  the  early  history  of  the  New  England  colonies  and 
began  to  collect  materials  for  the  history  of  Durham.  For  a 
time  he  was  with  his  grandfather,  Benjamin  Thompson,  mer- 
chant, and  Gov.  Ichabod  Goodwin,  Portsmouth.  In  the  early 
days  of  the  Boston  &  Maine  Railroad  he  was  station  agent  at 
South  Berwick  Junction,  and  later  he  was  wood  agent  of  the 


HISTORY   OF   DURHAM  3II 

New  York  and  Erie  Railroad,  living  some  years  at  Dunkirk, 
N.  Y.  He  returned  home  in  1854  and  the  following  spring  was 
elected  chairman  of  the  board  of  selectmen  and  the  same  year  was 
appointed  justice  of  the  peace.  He  took  a  strong  interest  in 
politics,  held  several  town  offices  and  was  a  county  commissioner. 
He  was  greatly  interested  in  the  public  schools  of  the  town  and 
was  so  efficient  a  superintendent  that  he  received  a  vote  of  thanks 


Ebenezer  Thompson 

at  the  annual  town  meeting  in  1861  "  for  his  assiduity  and  interest 
taken  and  zeal  manifested  in  the  cause  of  .common  schools  in 
this  town," — one  of  the  few  votes  of  similar  nature  in  the  records 
of  the  town.  In  his  section  of  country  he  was  the  pioneer  in 
growing  the  Baldwin  apple,  in  which  he  was  very  successful. 
He  was  also  engaged  in  lumber  business,  insurance  agent  for  sev- 
eral companies,  and  director  of  Newmarket  National  Bank  and 


312 


HISTORY   OF    DURHAM 


Strafford  National  Bank.     [See  Genealogical  Notes,  and  accom- 
panying portrait.] 

Mark  Henry  Mathes  was  born  in  Durham  2  October  1840, 
and  died  there  8  June  191 1.  He  lived  on  the  old  Mathes 
homestead  at  Durham  Point,  as  a  successful  farmer,  serving  the 
town  as  selectman  and  representative   to  the  legislature.       In 


Mark  H.  Mathes 


the  last  years  of  his  life  he  was  compelled  by  rheumatism  to 
walk  with  crutches.  He  is  characterized  as  honest,  outspoken 
and  kind.     [For  family  see  Genealogical  Notes.] 

Gen.  Alfred  Hoitt  was  born  in  Northwood,  11  January  1806. 
He  removed  fiom  Lee  to  Durham  soon  after  the  building  of  the 
Boston  and  Maine  railroad  and  erected  a  fine  residence  close 


HISTORY   OF   DURHAM 


313 


to  the  station.  His  buildings  were  destroyed  by  fire,  caused 
by  sparks  from  an  engine  of  the  railroad.  This  led  to  litigation 
with  the  railroad  for  four  years,  and  Gen.  Hoitt  at  last  won  the 
suit.  For  years  he  conducted  a  lucrative  business  in  shipping 
produce  to  Boston.  He  was  a  major  general  of  the  New  Hamp- 
shire militia  and  a  sturdy  representative  of  the  Jeffersonian  type 


Gen.  Alfred  Hoitt 


of  democracy.  He  served  as  representative  and  State  senator 
for  Lee  and  was  once  unanimously  elected  selectman  of  that 
town.  He  also  represented  Durham  in  the  legislature.  Within 
less  than  a  year  after  his  removal  to  Dover,  about  1880,  he  ran 
for  mayor  and  lacked  only  one  hundred  and  seven  votes  of  de- 
feating the  opposing  candidate  in  a  city  of  one  thousand  Repub- 
lican majority.     He  died  in  Dover  9  November  1883. 


SOME  MEN  OF  THE  PRESENT 

In  the  previous  chapter  it  has  been  a  pleasure  to  extol  the 
virtues  of  the  departed,  and  nobody  can  complain  because  of 
this,  since  death  glorifies  our  beloved.  It  is  now  necessary  to 
say  something  about  some  who  are  living,  and  here  words  must 
be  carefully  chosen  and  a  severe  simplicity  is  demanded.  Some- 
how most  of  us  poor  mortals  cannot  well  bear  to  hear  our  own 
living  acquaintances  praised  beyond  ourselves.  It  is  impossible 
to  mention  all  the  good  people  of  Durham  in  this  chapter. 
Modesty  should  be  a  prominent  trait  of  the  living,  and  the  writer 
wishes  to  avoid  any  accusation  of  flattery  and  of  having  kissed 
the  Blarney  Stone.  Therefore,  the  following  statements  deal 
with  facts  only,  which  must  speak  for  themselves.  The  names 
are  arranged  to  suit  the  illustrations,  without  any  reference  to 
preeminence. 

Hon.  Joshua  B.  Smith,  son  of  Hon.  Valentine  Smith,  was  born 
in  Durham  28  July  1823.  He  has  served  as  moderator  ten  times, 
as  town  clerk,  1851-56,  selectman  nineteen  years,  treasurer 
eleven  years,  representative  in  1865,  1866  and  1878,  state  sena- 
tor 1875-77,  councilor  1877-78,  and  delegate  to  the  Constitu- 
tional Convention  in  1876.  He  was  one  of  the  leaders  in  the 
organization  of  the  Durham  Social  Library  and  was  for  a  long 
time  librarian  and  then  president  of  the  Durham  Library  Associa- 
tion. He  is  a  member  of  the  Congregational  church  and,  like 
his  father,  has  done  much  to  support  and  advance  it,  both  having 
been  active  in  the  building  of  the  present  church  edifice.  He  has 
.been  a  member  of  the  State  Board  of  Agriculture  and  a  justice 
of  the  peace. 

His  sister,  Miss  Mary  E.  Smith,  has  been  associated  with  him 
in  all  good  works.  For  years  she  played  the  church  organ  gra- 
tuitously. Her  private  library  has  been  at  the  service  of  many, 
and  for  a  long  time  she  was  president  of  the  board  of  trustees  of 
Durham  Library  Association,  a  director,  librarian,  and  on  the 
committee  for  the  selection  of  books,  without  any  compensation 
except  the  thanks  and  good  will  of  the  people.  And  is  not  that 
■enough  for  generous  souls?     The  poor  have  had  in  her  a  bene- 

3i5 


3i6 


HISTORY    OF   DURHAM 


factress,  and  many  others  owe  to  her  more  than  money  can  pay. 
They  who  give  themselves  to  society  give  most. 

Dea.  Winthrop  S.  Meserve,  son  of  Smith  and  Abigail  (Emer* 
son)  Meserve,  was  born  in  Durham  7  February  1838.  He  stud- 
ied at  Durham,  Berwick  and  Hampton  Academies.  At  the  age 
of  eighteen  he  assumed  management  of  the  old  Emerson  farm, 
which  he  acquired  later.     He  has  been  a  leader  in  the  Congre- 


Hon.  Joshua  B.  Smith 

gational  church,  serving  as  clerk  of  the  church  since  1871  and 
of  the  society  since  1875  and  as  deacon  since  1877.  To  the  busi- 
ness of  a  farmer  he  added  that  of  lumbering.  He  has  served  two 
years  as  county  commissioner.  In  politics  he  is  an  independent 
Democrat,  and  both  parts  of  that  name  have  hindered  advance- 
ment in  political  office  in  Durham.  This  has  never  weighed 
heavily  upon  his  spirit,  nor  has  it  lessened  the  public  esteem  in 
which  he  is  held.     In  town  affairs  he  has  often  acted  as  moderator, 


HISTORY    OF    DURHAM  317 

overseer  of  the  poor,  selectman  and  on  various  committees.  He 
is  also  a  justice  of  the  peace.  As  a  member  of  the  committee  to 
collect  material  and  publish  a  history  of  Durham  he  has  been 
zealous  and  efficient,  the  acknowledged  superior  of  all  in  knowl- 
edge of  genealogical  details  of  the  town's  old  families.  He  has 
gathered  and  imparted  such  information  by  patient  search  of 


Forrest  S.  Smith 

public  records  and  by  an  extensive  correspondence  of  many  years. 
He  has  done  this  con  amore,  for  the  mere  love  of  it — the  trait  of 
the  expert  genealogist.     [See  frontispiece  of  Vol.  II.] 

Forrest  S.  Smith,  seventh  in  descent  from  Joseph  Smith,  was 
born  30  June  1857,  and  owns  the  same  acres  on  which  his  first 
American  ancestor  settled.     He  was  educated  at  Exeter  Academy 


3i8 


HISTORY    OF    DURHAM 


and  passed  examination  for  admission  to  the  Yale  Scientific  School , 
but  the  death  of  his  father  threw  upon  him  the  care  of  the  farm. 
He  taught  school  in  Durham  and  served  some  years  on  the 
school  committee.  He  made  a  specialty  of  raising  hay  and  cattle. 
In  1887  he  went  to  Boston  and  secured  a  position  in  a  wholesale 
commission  house,  that  deals  largely  in  hay  and  grain.     In  1892 


Hon.  Jeremiah  Laxgley 


he  became  a  member  of  the  firm  known  as  Hosmer,  Robinson  & 
Co.,  and  they  do  the  largest  wholesale  hay  and  grain  business 
in  the  world,  as  is  claimed.  Although  he  keeps  his  legal  residence 
in  Durham  and  maintains  a  summer  home  on  the  ancestral 
estate,  he  lives  most  of  the  year  in  Brookline,  Mass.  His  office 
is  at  the  Chamber  of  Commerce  building. 


HISTORY   OF   DURHAM  3I9 

Mr.  Smith  married,  I  September  1887,  Sarah  Adla  Thompson, 
daughter  of  Dea.  John  E.  Thompson,  and  they  have  traveled 
extensively  in  America  and  Europe.  He  is  a  member  of  the 
Algonquin  Club,  of  the  Boston  Athletic  Association,  of  the 
Boston  Art  Club,  of  the  Grae  Burn  Country  Club  of  Newton, 
and  of  the  Masonic  order. 

Hon.  Jeremiah  Langley  was  born  in  Durham  25  March  1841. 
He  was  educated  in  the  public  school  and  at  the  age  of  fifteen 
had  learned  the  trade  of  a  shoemaker.  He  also  learned  to  man- 
age a  farm  and  raise  hay,  and,  knowing  the  value  of  this  product, 
he  has  bought  and  sold  a  good  deal  of  it.  In  1890  he  and  sons 
bought  a  line  of  barges  for  transporting  coal  from  Portsmouth  to 
Dover,  Exeter,  Newmarket  and  Durham.  He  has  taken  great 
interest  in  political  affairs  and  has  served  his  town  in  varied 
offices,  as  moderator,  selectman  three  times,  representative  and 
senator.  While  in  the  legislature  he  did  much  toward  securing 
the  removal  of  the  agricultural  college  from  Hanover  to  Durham. 
As  senator  he  served  on  the  committees  on  railroads,  agriculture, 
incorporations,  elections  and  soldiers'  home.  He  has  been  presi- 
dent of  the  Republican  Club  of  Durham  and  a  recognized  leader 
in  that  party  for  twenty  years,  The  Grange  and  Public  Library 
acknowledge  his  services,  and  the  Newmarket  Bank  has  had  him 
as  director.  He  is  a  Mason  and  an  Odd  Fellow,  speaking  after 
the  manner  of  lodges,  and  to  speak  plainly  he  is  an  energetic 
farmer,  business  man  and  political  leader. 

Hon.  Lucien  Thompson  was  born  at  the  old  Thompson  home- 
stead in  Durham  3  June  1859.  When  he  was  ten  years  old  his 
father  died  and  the  family  removed  to  Manchester,  where  Lucien 
graduated  from  the  high  school  at  the  age  of  eighteen,  being  the 
salutatorian  of  his  class.  Preferring  farming  to  a  course  of 
classical  study  in  college  he  returned  to  the  homestead  in  Durham 
and  became  a  successful  farmer;  yet  he  has  found  time  to  serve 
his  town  and  state  in  various  offices,  such  as  supervisor,  treas- 
urer and  moderator  of  ten  town  meetings.  He  has  been  a  justice 
of  the  peace  since  1886  and  for  a  long  time  notary  public.  From 
1887  to  1892  he  was  a  member  of  the  State  Board  of  Agriculture, 
and  since  1892  he  has  been  a  trustee  of  the  New  Hampshire  Col- 
lege of  Agriculture  and  Mechanic  Arts  and  is  secretary  of  the 
board.  At  the  age  of  twenty-seven,  he  was  elected  representative 
to  the  legislature.     He  was  a  member  of  the  senate  in  1893-94, 


320  HISTORY    OF    DURHAM 

and  served  as  chairman  of  the  committee  on  agriculture  and  as 
member  of  committees  on  education,  state  prison  and  industrial 
school,  labor,  and  public  improvements.  He  was  on  Governor 
Bachelder's  staff  with  rank  of  colonel. 

Col.  Thompson,  for  so  he  is  popularly  called,  inherited  the 
valuable  library  of  his  aunt,  Miss  Mary  P.  Thompson,  and  has 
written  historical  articles  for  the  newspapers  and  the  Granite 
Monthly.  He  assisted  his  aunt  in  gathering  material  for  her 
Landmarks  in  Ancient  Dover  and  for  more  than  a  score  of  years 
has  been  collecting  material  for  the  history  of  his  native  town. 
The  facts  pertaining  to  military  history,  cemeteries,  old  houses, 
slavery,  post  offices,  and  many  details  of  educational  and  ecclesi- 
astical history,  that  are  recorded  in  this  book,  are  the  result 
of  his  long  and  painstaking  research.  Indeed,  without  his 
cooperation  the  history  of  Durham  must  have  been  incomplete. 

Col.  Thompson  drafted  the  by-laws  of  the  Durham  Social 
Library  and  has  been  secretary  of  that  and  of  the  Durham 
Library  Association  since  1881.  He  is  a  charter  member  of 
Scammell  Grange,  its  secretary  many  years,  lecturer  and  over- 
seer of  the  Pomona  Grange,  and  a  member  of  the  State  Grange 
executive  committee.  He  is  a  charter  member  of  the  New 
Hampshire  Genealogical  Society  and  has  been  a  trustee  and  the 
treasurer  of  the  same,  and  belongs  to  the  Sons  of  the  American 
Revolution.  When  in  the  legislature  he  was  a  member  of  the 
special  committee  that  erected  the  present  Strafford  County 
court  house. 

As  a  working  member  of  the  Congregational  church  he  gave 
much  assistance  in  editing  its  historical  manual.  He  has  also 
edited  and  published  several  historical  pamphlets  and  papers 
read  before  patriotic  societies.  It  is  to  be  regretted  that  the 
health  of  himself  and  his  family  does  not  permit  him  to  live  con- 
tinuously in  Durham.  For  several  years  his  winter  home  has 
been  in  University  Park,  Denver,  Col.  [See  Genealogical  Notes 
and  frontispiece  of  Vol.  I.] 

Hon.  Daniel  Chesley,  son  of  Daniel  and  Margery  Steele  (Wood- 
man) Chesley,  was  born  in  Madbury  n  October  1859.  He 
lives  on  the  old  farm  that  has  been  in  the  possession  of  the'  Ches- 
ley family  from  the  earliest  beginnings  of  Durham  and  is  a 
practical  and  successful  farmer  as  well  as  a  general  contractor, 
doing  a    lot    of   building   in    stone,    brick   and   wood.     He  has 


HISTORY   OF   DURHAM  32 1 

served  on  the  board  of  selectmen,  as  representative  to  the 
legislature  and  as  a  member  of  the  State  Constitutional  Conven- 
tion of  1902.  He  is  now  filling  the  office  of  State  senator  for 
the  term  of  1913-14  and  is  chairman  of  the  committee  on  towns 
and  parishes  and  a  member  of  committees  on  military  affairs, 
agriculture,  state  hospital,  and  fish  and  game.     He  belongs  to 


Hon.  Daniel  Chesley 

the  orders  of  Odd  Fellows,  Knights  of  Pythias  and  Patrons  of 
Husbandry.      His  portrait  tells  the  rest  of  the  story. 

Charles  Wentworth,  ron  of  Charles  H.  and  Ann  Elizabeth 
(Stacy)  Wentworth,  was  born  in  North  Berwick,  Me.,  10  July 
1872,  eighth  in  descent  from  Elder  William  Wentworth,  one  of  the 
earliest  settlers  of  Dover  and  bearing  a  surname  that  was  been 

21 


322  HISTORY   OF    DURHAM 

honored  in  history.  He  was  educated  in  the  North  Berwick 
High  School  and  in  New  Hampshire  College.  He  has  served  as 
town  clerk  of  Durham  since  1904  and  represented  the  town  in  the 
legislature,  1905-06,  serving  as  secretary  on  the  standing  com- 
mittee on  agricultural  college,  and  partly  by  his  influence  money 
was  appropriated  for  the  college  gymnasium.     He  has  also  been 


Charles  Wentworth 

on  the  school  board  five  years  and  has  been  station  agent  of  the 
Boston  and  Maine  Railroad  since  1900.  He  is  a  member  of  the 
Sons  of  Veterans,  his  father  having  served  three  years  during  the 
Civil  War  in  Company  F.  4th  New  Hampshire  Volunteers.  He 
married,  in  1898,  Evelyn  Jenkins  of  Lee,  a  student  of  New 
Hampshire  College,  and  they  have  one  daughter,  Valerie.  A 
social  companion,  an  artist  in  telling  a  story  and  in  illustrating 


HISTORY   OF    DURHAM  323 

it  with  pen  or  brush,  a  faithful  and  accommodating  official,  a 
modest  and  unassuming  man  of  worth, — such  is  the  impression 
that  he  makes  upon  one  who  knows  him  a  little  below  the  surface. 
Col.  Arioch  Wentworth  Griffiths  was  born  in  Packer's  Falls 
district  31  August  1851.  He  was  educated  in  the  common 
school,  Newmarket  High  School  and  the  Franklin  Academy  of 


Col.  Arioch  W.  Griffiths 

Dover.  Together  with  his  father  and  brother  he  has  developed 
one  of  the  best  farms  in  Strafford  County.  The  set  of  buildings, 
twelve  in  number,  includes  a  handsome  two-story  residence, 
equipped  with  electric  lights,  steam  heat  and  telephone,  and  a 
spacious  barn,  41  by  no  feet,  which  has  a  capacity  for  150  tons 
of  hay.     An  electric  mill  has  been  built,  capable  of  producing 


324  HISTORY    OF    DURHAM 

600  barrels  of  cider  per  clay.  The  output  averaged  1,000  bar- 
rels per  year  for  thiity-five  years.  Owing  to  change  of  laws 
and  failure  of  the  apple  crop  the  mill  is  now  idle.  Mr.  Griffiths 
is  a  Republican  in  politics,  has  served  two  years  as  selectman 
and  as  moderator  of  town  meetings  twelve  years  in  succes- 
sion, holding  that  office  now.  He  also  holds  at  the  present  time 
his  seventh  commission  as  deputy  sheriff.  Since  31  May  1888 
he  has  been  an  active  member  of  the  Knights  of  Pythias,  being  a 
member  of  Pioneer  Lodge,  No.  1,  of  Newmarket.  He  was 
actively  instrumental  in  the  organization  of  Sullivan  Lodge,  No. 
26,  of  Durham.  He  filled  the  various  chairs  and  became  a 
member  of  the  Grand  Lodge  in  1891.  He  was  a  charter  member 
of  W.  A.  Frye  Company,  No.  5,  U.  R.  He  was  second  lieutenant 
at  its  organization,  afterward  elected  five  times  first  lieutenant, 
and  was  promoted  to  the  rank  of  major  on  regimental  staff.  After 
holding  this  position  two  years  he  was  elected  lieutenant- 
colonel  and  held  the  position  two  years.  He  was  then  appointed 
assistant  inspector  general  on  the  brigade  staff  with  the  rank  of 
colonel,  in  which  position  he  served  two  terms  of  four  years  each. 
He  was  then  appointed  assistant  quartermaster  general  with 
same  rank,  in  which  office  he  is  now  serving  his  second  term.  He 
belongs  to  the  Sons  of  the  American  Revolution  and  was  for  many 
years  a  director  of  the  Newmarket  National  Bank. 

Albert  DeMeritt  was  born  in  Durham  26  August  1851.  Besides 
caring  for  a  farm  of  three  hundred  acres  and  doing  much  in  lum- 
ber business  he  has  held  many  public  offices,  such  as  moderator 
of  town  meetings  eleven  times,  and  two  terms  representative 
in  the  legislature,  where  he  served  on  the  standing  committee 
on  agricultural  college  and  on  the  committee  on  appropriations. 
In  appreciation  of  his  work  in  the  legislative  session  of  191 1  the 
faculty  and  trustees  of  New  Hampshire  College  each  unanimously 
passed  resolutions  of  commendation. 

Mr.  DeMeritt  was  a  member  of  the  Constitutional  Conven- 
tion in  1889  and  again  in  1912.  He  served  on  the  State  Board  of 
Agriculture  nine  years  and  has  been  one  of  the  trustees  of  the 
college.  He  has  taken  great  interest  in  education,  serving  on  the 
school  board  nine  years.  He  drafted  the  free  text-book  bill, 
which  became  a  law  in  1887  and  remains  in  force  unchanged, 
so  complete  that  almost  all  the  other  states  have  adopted  it. 
Through  his  efforts  the  Durham  Lyceum  was  organized,  which 


HISTORY    OF    DURHAM 


325 


ran  for  a  decade  with  remarkable  success,  attracting  people  from 
the  neighboring  towns. 

Mr.  DeMeritt  is  a  member  of  Scammell  Grange  and  past 
chancellor  commander  of  Sullivan  Lodge  of  Knights  of  Pythias. 
He  is  also  a  justice  of  the  peace.  New  Hampshire  College  has 
conferred  upon  him  the  degree  of  Master  of  Science.* 


Albert  DeMeritt 


Charles  E.  Hoitt,  son  of  Gen.  Alfred  Hoitt,  was  born  8  March 
1849.  After  spending  a  few  years  in  Concord  he  settled  in  Dur- 
ham, buying  and  remodeling  the  old  Ballard  house.  Like  his 
father  he  belongs  to  the  Democratc  party.  His  popularity  is 
shown  by  the  fact,  that,  although  Durham  always  casts  its 
presidential  vote  for  Republican  electors,  and  has  chosen  only 
four  Democratic  representatives  since  the  Civil  War,  he  and 
his  father  are  two  of  that  four.     He  has  been  elected  selectman 


*Mr.  DeMeritt,  shot  accidentally,  died 
host  of  friends. 


August  1913,  much  esteemed  and  lamented  by  a 


326 


HISTORY    OF    DURHAM 


sixteen  times  and  still  holds  that  office.  He  has  filled  every  chair 
in  Sullivan  Lodge  of  Knights  of  Pythias,  including  grand  chan- 
cellor. He  is  also  a  prominent  officer  in  Scammell  Grange.  He 
is  now  serving  his  second  term  as  county  commissioner.  His 
popularity  is  due  to  his  cordial  way  of  meeting  all  people  and 
to  honesty  and  economy  in   handling  the  people's  money,   the 


Charles  E.  Hoitt 


necessary  expenses  in  a  new  college  town  demanding  wise  and 
strict  calculation. 

Valentine  Mathes  was  born  in  Durham  13  February  1846.  At 
the  age  of  eighteen  he  began  river  freighting  to  Portsmouth, 
Exeter  and  Newmarket.  After  three  years  he  turned  his  atten- 
tion to  railroading  in  New  York  and  Boston  for  a  year.     Then 


HISTORY   OF   DURHAM 


327 


he  bought  out  Joseph  W.  Coe  at  Durham  village,  where  he  kept 
a  general  country  store  and  served  as  postmaster  from  1872  to 
1880.  He  then  removed  to  Dover,  where  for  sixteen  years  he  did 
a  large  business  in  groceries,  coal,  wood,  hay  and  grain.  This 
business  was  sold  in  order  that  he  might  devote  all  his  time 
to  the  lumber  business,  in  which  he  had  been  interested  actively 


Valentine  Mathes 


from  boyhood  and  which  had  grown  extensively.     In  this  busi- 
ness his  son,  John  E.  Mathes,  is  associated  with  him. 

Mr.  Mathes  owns  and  rents  to  tenants  one  hundred  and  sixteen 
tenements,  offices  and  stores  and  is  the  largest  individual  tax- 
payer in  Dover.  He  and  his  brother,  Hamilton  A.  Mathes, 
organized  the  Pascataqua  Navigation  Company,  with  a  capital 


328 


HISTORY    OF   DURHAM 


of  $100,000,  and  have  two  boats  and  twelve  barges  engaged  in 
river  freighting  from  Eastport,  Me.,  to  Boston,  Mass. 

He  has  been  representative  to  the  legislature  and  has  served 
in  the  common  council  of  Dover.  He  is  a  Mason,  Granger,  Red 
Man,  Elk,  Odd  Fellow,  and,  last  but  not  least,  a  member  of  the 
Congregational  church. 


Charles  S.  Laxgley 


Charles  S.  Langley,  son  of  Hon.  Jeremiah  Langley,  was  born 
in  Durham  1 1  October  1867.  He  has  been  a  member  of  the  school 
board  eighteen  years  and  represented  the  town  in  the  legislature, 
1903-04,  serving  on  the  committee  on  Agricultural  College. 
Since  boyhood  he  has  been  associated  with  his  father  in  the  hay 
and  lumber  business  and  in  river  freighting.     In    addition  he 


HISTORY    OF   DURHAM 


329 


deals  in  automobiles  and  has  planned  and  built  several  houses 
in  Durham  Village.  He  has  been  a  director  of  Newmarket 
National  Bank  about  fifteen  years.  He  is  affiliated  with  the 
Grangers,  the  Knights  of  Pythias,  and  the  Elks.  The  Langley 
home  is  one  of  hospitality,  prosperity  and  ambitious  content- 
ment.    [For  family  see  Genealogical  Notes.] 


George  W.  Ransom 


George  W.  Ransom  was  born  in  Durham,  I  January  1858, 
son  of  Alonzo  and  Isabella  (Hook)  Ransom.  He  brushed  aside 
all  obstacles  to  his  way  through  preparatory  schools  and  college 
by  working  on  a  farm  after  he  was  fourteen  years  of  age  at  eight- 
een dollars  per. month  and  by  chopping  white  oak  cord  wood  in 
the  winter  at  fifty  cents  a  cord,  and  he  has  made  himself  richer 


330  HISTORY    OF    DURHAM 

than  those  who  allowed  him  to  do  it.  He  fitted  for  college  at 
Franklin  Academy,  Dover  and  Xew  Hampton  Literary  Institu- 
tion and  graduated  at  Dartmouth  in  1886  with  the  degree  of 
A.  B.  Meanwhile  he  taught  school  in  Middleton.  Wolfeboro 
and  the  village  school  at  Durham  three  years.  This  kept  him 
away  from  his  work  in  college  twelve  weeks  of  each  year.  The 
writer  hereof  knows  just  what  that  means  by  happy  and  profita- 
ble experience.  One  learns  to  study  as  well  as  to  teach  by 
teaching. 

After  graduation  Mr.  Ransom  taught  in  Walpole,  X.  H., 
Pepperell,  Mass.,  Warner,  X'.  H.,  and  since  1893  in  Boston,  Mass., 
where  he  has  served  as  submaster  and  master  of  schools  in  Dor- 
chester, Roxbury  and  the  city  proper.  He  is  now  master  of 
the  Abraham  Lincoln  School,  which  has  2,400  pupils,  perhaps 
the  largest  school  in  Xew  England.  He  has  also  been  principal 
of  the  South  Boston  Evening  High  School.  He  has  taken  several 
courses  of  study  in  the  Boston  School  of  Technology  and  in  Har- 
vard University  and  has  traveled  extensively  in  Europe  and  in  this 
country.  He  certainly  has  an  aptitude  for  hard  work  and  for 
work  that  counts  for  something.  He  has  honored  the  history  of 
Durham  more  than  the  History  of  Durham  can  honor  him. 

Mr.  Ransom  married  in  June,  1893,  Eliza  B.  Taylor  at  Alex- 
andria Bay,  Xew  York,  a  graduate  of  Oswego  Xormal  School 
and  a  teacher  of  large  experience.  She  graduated  from  the 
Boston  University  Medical  School  in  1900  with  degree  of  M.  D., 
and  afterward  took  postgraduate  courses  in  Xew  York  and  in 
Johns  Hopkins  University.  She  has  been  instructor  in  the 
Boston  University  Medical  School  in  the  chair  of  Histology  and 
is  now  practicing  as  a  specialist  in  nervous  diseases,  in  Boston. 
They  have  children,  Ruth,  barn  24  December  1903,  and  Eleanor 
born  22  December  1905. 


POST  OFFICE  AND  POSTMASTERS 

The  earliest  post  office  in  New  Hampshire  was  established  at 
Portsmouth  previous  to  1695,  and  it  did  business  for  the  entire 
province.  Durham  was  first  included  in  a  mail  route  in  1786, 
and  Samuel  Dearborn  was  the  post  rider,  at  a  salary  of  twenty- 
four  pounds  per  annum.  The  cost  of  sending  a  letter  forty 
miles  was  six  pence.  After  1691  the  rate  was  reduced  to  eight 
cents  for  distances  under  forty  miles  and  increasing  gradually 
to  twenty  cents  for  over  three  hundred  miles,  and  twenty-five 
cents  for  over  five  hundred  miles.  Every  letter  composed  of 
two  pieces  of  paper  paid  double  these  rates,  and  so  the  rates 
went  up  in  proportion  to  size  and  weight.  Then  letters  were 
necessities  or  luxuries,  and  the  art  of  compact  writing  was  culti- 
vated. 

The  building  of  Pascataqua  bridge  and  the  New  Hampshire 
Turnpike  put  Durham  on  the  main  line  of  travel,  and  then 
caravans  a  mile  long,  composed  of  loaded  teams  from  Ports- 
mouth and  from  Durham  wharves  might  be  seen  on  their  way  to 
Concord.  Thus  a  post  office  at  Durham  became  almost  a  neces- 
sity, and  Benjamin  Thompson  was  appointed  the  first  post- 
master, 1  October  1796.  He  was  son  of  Judge  Ebenezer  Thomp- 
son and  served  for  twenty  years  as  clerk  of  the  Court  of  Common 
Pleas  in  Strafford  County.  He  was  also  a  justice  of  the  peace 
and  a  trustee  of  Durham  Academy.  The  post  office  was  then 
in  a  building  near  the  location  of  the  present  office,  in  a  store  that 
was  burned  several  years  ago. 

Mr.  Thompson  was  succeeded,  I  October  1802,  by  Edward 
Wells,  who  served  during  the  administration  of  President  Thomas 
Jefferson.  Mr.  Wells  was  taxed  in  the  Lubberland  district  in 
1794.  A  deed  from  Benjamin  Chesley  to  Joseph  Coe,  dated 
21  July  1804,  conveying  land  adjoining  on  which  now  stands 
the  Town  Hall,  contains  the  following  clause,  "adjoining  land  in 
possession  of  Edward  Wells  as  his  store  now  stands,"  and  here 
was  the  post  office.  Mr.  Wells  married  Margery,  daughter  of 
Theophilus  and  Mary  (Sullivan)  Hardy,  and  taught  school 
in  Durham  several  terms  between  1802  and  1812.  His  sons 
became  noted   men,  Samuel   being  governor  of   Maine,  Joseph 

33i 


332  HISTORY    OF   DURHAM 

lieutenant-governor  of  Illinois,  John  A.,  United  States  senator 
from  New  Hampshire  and  candidate  for  Governor. 

Benjamin  Underwood  Lapish  was  the  next  postmaster,  taking 
office  i  January  1808  and  holding  it  only  six  months.  The  post 
office  at  this  time  was  in  the  Alonzo  Ransom  house. 

George  Ffrost  was  the  fourth  postmaster  in  Durham.  He  was 
appointed  1  July  1808,  and  he  or  his  son,  George,  held  office  till 
5  January  1848.  The  office  during  this  time  was  in  a  store  on 
the  north  side  of  the  road  at  Durham  Falls  bridge.  Mr.  Ffrost 
was  a  magistrate,  merchant  and  extensive  farmer,  representing 
the  town  in  the  General  Court  in  1807. 

William  J.  Chesley  was  the  successor  of  George  Ffrost  and 
served  till  25  July  1849,  a  little  more  than  one  year.  He  inherited 
his  grandfather's,  Benjamin  Chesley 's,  homestead,  living  on  the 
spot  where  now  is  the  residence  of  the  president  of  the  college. 
He  kept  the  post  office  in  the  southeast  corner  of  his  residence. 
He  served  as  selectman,  moderator,  and  delegate  to  the  Con- 
stitutional Convention  in  1850. 

Mrs.  Mary  A.  Page  succeeded  Mr.  Chesley  and  held  the  office 
till  23  May  1853.  She  wras  Mary  Ann  Gilman  and  married 
Joseph  W.  Page,  30  November  1823.  She  kept  the  post  office 
in  the  west  front  room  of  the  house  east  of  the  house  in  which 
was  the  post  office  in  1902,  and  Mr.  Page  kept  a  store  over  the 
well  between  his  dwelling  house  and  the  residence  of  Mrs.  Hamil- 
ton Smith.  He  died  9  March  1834,  aged  42.  Mrs.  Page  lived 
in  the  house  here  mentioned  till  her  death,  in  1882. 

Alfred  D.  Hoitt  was  appointed  postmaster  23  May  1853,  and 
held  the  office  about  four  years,  during  the  administration  of 
President  Franklin  Pierce.  Mr.  Hoitt  kept  a  general  store  in 
a  building  formerly  standing  opposite  the  old  railroad  station 
and  now  removed  to  Thompson  Avenue.    Here  was  the  post  office. 

Mr.  Hoitt  removed  to  Charlestown,  Mass.,  and  became  promi- 
nent in  politics,  serving  as  alderman  and  in  the  common  council. 
He  was  a  hay  and  grain  merchant  on  Canal  Street,  Boston,  for 
thirty  years,  removing  to  Arlington  in  1873,  where  he  served 
on  the  water  board  and  board  of  assessors  as  chairman.  He 
was  a  director  of  the  Metropolitan  Bank  and  vice-president  of 
the  Arlington  National  Bank.  He  served  several  times  as  dele- 
gate to  Democratic  national  conventions  and  was  superintendent 
of  the  Arlington  branch  of  the  Boston  post  office. 


HISTORY   OF   DURHAM  333 

Joseph  W.  Coe  became  postmaster  9  July  1857.  He  kept  the 
office  in  the  old  brick  store  in  the  Town  Hall  building  and  in 
the  Perkins  store  across  the  street.  He  was  educated  at  Durham 
Academy  and  was  engaged  in  mercantile  pursuits  for  twenty 
years.  He  purchased  the  beautiful  Steele  residence,  where  he 
long  resided.     Being  a  Union  man  he  identified  himself  with 


Joseph  William  Coe 

the  Republican  party  in  1861.  The  income  of  the  post  office  in 
his  time  was  only  about  $200  annually.  [See  Genealogical 
Notes.] 

Valentine  Mathes,  Jr.,  was  appointed  postmaster  12  August 
1872,  to  succeed  Mr.  Coe.  He  served  under  the  administration 
of  President  U.  S.  Grant,  and  kept  the  office  in  a  store  opposite 


334  HISTORY    OF    DURHAM 

the  Town  Hall  building.  He  was  also  town  clerk.  He  sold  out 
his  business  to  Jasper  R.  McDaniel,  and  removed  to  Dover. 

Jasper  R.  McDaniel  became  postmaster  15  November  1880. 
He  was  the  son  of  the  late  John  R.  McDaniel,  Esq.,  and  lived 
in  the  house  afterward  owned  and  occupied  by  Prof.  Charles 
L.  Parsons.  The  post  office  was  continued  in  its  previous  quarters. 
Mr.  McDaniel  sold  his  business  to  Chauncey  E.  Hayes,  and 
removed  to  Maiden,  Mass. 

Alvin  Jackson  began  his  duties  as  postmaster  24  August  1885. 
He  was  born  in  Madbury  in  1848,  and  for  many  years  was  en- 
gaged in  business  in  the  store  belonging  to  Miss  Louise  S.  Smith, 
residing  in  the  tenement  over  the  store.  He  served  under  both 
President  Cleveland  and  President  Harrison. 

Chauncey  E.  Hayes  was  appointed  postmaster  5  April  1889, 
and  the  office  was  again  removed  to  the  Town  Hall  building,, 
in  the  room  now  used  as  the  town  safe.  Mr.  Hayes  carried  on 
a  general  store  and  was  town  treasurer,  1892-96.  He  is  still 
living  in  Durham  village  and  all  four  of  his  children  have  gradu- 
ated at  Xew  Hampshire  College. 

Alvin  Jackson  again  came  into  office  17  June  1893  and  served 
till  1  July  1897,  when  George  D.  Stevens  was  appointed  post- 
master. The  removal  of  the  post  office  from  the  Town  Hall 
under  the  hill  to  a  point  nearer  the  college  occasioned  some  con- 
test. The  store  east  of  the  Benjamin  Thompson  residence  was- 
fitted  up  and  again  the  post  office  was  located  here,  in  the  same 
building  where  it  was  kept  under  the  first  postmaster,  1796-1802. 
Mr.  Stevens  occupied  the  tenement  over  the  store  for  a  dwelling. 
The  post  office  remained  here  but  a  few  months.  On  a  Sunday 
afternoon,  12  December  1897,  the  Alvin  Jackson  store  was 
discovered  to  be  on  fire.  As  this  building  was  about  two  feet 
from  the  post  office  building,  the  contents  of  the  latter  were 
hurriedly  removed  to  the  grocery  st:re  of  Walter  S.  Edgerly 
in  Whitcher's  block,  where  it  remained  a  few  days.  The  post 
office  building  and  the  Benjamin  Thompson  residence,  at  that 
time  used  as  a  girls'  dormitory,  were  completely  destroyed. 

Within  a  few  days  the  post  office  was  removed  to  the  annex 
of  the  store  of  Gorham  H.  Sawyer,  opposite  the  Alvin  Jackson 
store.  March  20,  1899,  it  was  removed  to  the  Mary  P.  Thompson 
house,  so  called,  owned  by  Hon.  Lucien  Thompson,  who  fitted 
up  the  west  side  of  the  house  for  the  accommodation  of  the  public. 


HISTORY    OF   DURHAM 


335 


Mr.  Stevens  occupied  the  rest  of  the  house  for  a  residence.  The 
post  office  was  first  lighted  by  electricity  in  the  spring  of  1900. 
Mr.  Stevens  served  sixteen  years  as  town  clerk  and  is  justice 
of  the  peace.  He  was  prominent  as  an  officer  in  the  Scammell 
Grange  and  in  Sullivan  Lodge  of  the  Knights  of  Pythias  having 
filled  the  chairs  and  been  chancellor  commander.     He  was  born 


George  D.  Stevens 


16  November  i860,  son  of  David  and  Hannah  (Lee)  Stevens, 
and  married,  14  September  1892,  Gertrude  Isabelle  Davis. 
They  have  two  daughters,  Marjorie  Pearley  Stevens,  born  6 
November  1896,  and  Louise  Esther  Stevens,  born  21  June  1907. 

The  income  of  the  post  office  greatly  increased  after  the  re- 
moval of  the  college  to  Durham,  and  by  order  of  the  Post  Office 


336  HISTORY    OF    DURHAM 

Department  at  Washington  it  became  a  third-class  post  office 
on  and  after  i  January  1904.  The  rural  free  delivery  route  was 
inaugurated  1  December  1902.  Previous  to  this  time  Dover 
rural  route,  No.  6,  served  Pascataqua  Bridge  section  and  con- 
tinues to  do  so. 

Owing  to  need  of  more  suitable  quarters  for  the  rapidly  in- 
creasing amount  of  mail  the  post  office  department  agreed  with 
Mr.  Lucien  Thompson  that  if  he  would  build  and  equip  a  new 
post  office  building,  not  connected  with  any  other  building  and 
not  used  in  part  for  dwelling  or  store,  and  suitably  furnish  the 
same,  they  would  lease  it  for  a  long  term  of  years.  The  build- 
ing was  erected  in  1907  and  occupied  on  the  first  day  of  November 
of  that  year.  It  is  an  up-to-date  building  with  first  class  furnish- 
ings for  postal  business,  electric  lights,  steam  heat,  and  flagpole. 


SOME  OLD  HOUSES 

In  deeds  cited  on  page  59  it  is  shown  that  Dr.  Samuel  Adams 
built  the  Sullivan  house  previous  to  the  year  1741,  on  land  deed:d 
to  him  by  his  father,  the  Rev.  Hugh  Adams,  in  1743.  Here 
Dr.  Samuel  Adams  lived  till  his  death,  in  1762,  and  his  widow, 
Rebecca  (Hall)  Adams,  sold  the  house  and  three  acres  of  land  to 
John  Sullivan,  19  December  1764.  Here  lived  Gen.  Sullivan 
till  his  death,  in  1795,  and  his  widow  lived  here  till  her  death, 
in  1820.  Mr.  Amory  described  it  as  "a  large  square  house  of 
two  stories,  with  handsome  carved  balusters  to  the  staircase, 
and  other  richly  moulded  wood  work.  It  was  the  center  of  a 
cluster  of  attached  or  surrounding  buildings,  his  library  and 
office,  dairy,  granary,  stables  and  bee-hives,  some  of  which  have 
been  removed.  .  .  .  Here  he  had  his  council  chamber,  as 
President  Governor,  and  here  public  affairs  were  transacted. 
Various  distinguished  persons  from  all  parts  of  the  country  and 
Europe  were  his  guests." 

The  road  leading  to  the  wharf  ran  between  this  house  and  the 
old  meeting  house.  Maples  and  poplars  surround  the  house 
now,  and  probably  did  in  the  early  days.  The  land  sloping 
down  to  the  wharf  was  terraced  long  ago.  The  house  contains 
fourteen  rooms,  and  a  sun-parlor  has  recently  been  added  to 
the  rear.  The  large  rooms  have  fireplaces  about  the  central 
chimney,  and  in  some  rooms  the  wall-paper  of  Revolutionary 
times  has  been  preserved.  Ornamental  panelings  and  carvings 
attest  the  taste  and  luxury  of  original  owners. 

There  was  a  dilapidated  building  in  the  rear  of  this  house,  which 
some  say  was  the  abode  of  Gen.  Sullivan's  slaves.  Others  think 
it  was  his  law  office. 

About  1834  Capt.  Ebenezer  Thompson  bought  the  house  and 
here  he  and  his  wife  died  the  same  night,  26-27  January  1853. 
His  son,  Charles  A.  C.  Thompson,  inherited  the  place  and  died 
here  4  December  1868.  It  then  passed  into  the  possession  of 
Miss  Lucetta  M.  Davis.  After  her  death  it  belonged  to  Charles 
H.  Mitchell  of  Dover.  In  1912  it  was  purchased  and  thoroughly 
repaired  by  Mr.  Lynde  Sullivan,  a  lawyer  of  Boston  and  great- 
grandson  of  Gov.  James  Sullivan  of  Massachusetts,  who  was 
22  337 


o 


HISTORY    OF    DURHAM 


339 


brother  to  Gen.  John  Sullivan.  Since  Gov.  James  Sullivan 
married  Hetty  Odiorne,  grand-daughter  of  the  Rev.  Hugh 
Adams,  it  follows  that  Mr.  Lynde  Sullivan  has  acquired  his 
own  ancestral  estate,  which  the  Rev.  Hugh  Adams  bought  in 
1 717.  Long  may  the  Sullivan  family  own,  preserve  and  enjoy 
the  house  and  land  made  famous  by  occupants  of  two  centuries. 
About  three  rods  south  of  the  Sullivan  house  is  the  site  of 
the  house  built  between  171 7  and  1720  by  the  Rev.  Hugh  Adams, 
for  at  the  latter  date  John  Drew,  carpenter,  of  Portsmouth  sued 
said  Adams  for  twelve  pounds,  wages  of  himself  and  son,  John. 


Inn  of  Master  John  Smith 
Built  soon  after  1700 

Here  lived  the  Rev.  Hugh  Adams  and  later  it  was  the  home 
of  the  Rev.  Alvan  Tobey,  D.  D.,  when  he  first  came  to  Durham. 
It  was  called  a  parsonage,  though  it  seems  never  to  have  been 
owned  by  the  town  or  the  church.  Valentine  Smith  lived  in 
this  house  when  he  removed  from  Lubberland.  Many  years 
ago  it  was  hauled  to  its  present  location,  on  the  road  from  the 
Falls  to  Newmarket,  on  the  north  side  of  Denbow's  brook, 
on  land  that  once  belonged  to  Benjamin  Thompson,  Sr.  In 
his  will,  1838,  he  called  it  his  "Long  Marsh  Farm."  The  house 
has  been  repaired  and  slightly  remodeled  and  is  in  good  condi- 
tion.   Israel  P.  Church  once  lived  in  it. 

A  little  south  of  where  the  Rev.  Hugh  Adams  lived  there  is  a 


HISTORY    OF   DURHAM  341 

house,  the  rear  part  of  which,  or  L,  has  the  appearance  of  being 
very  old.  There  was  a  house  here  in  1682,  when  John  Mighell 
sold  it  to  Samuel  Burnham.  See  page  58.  James,  son  of  Samuel 
Burnham,  sold  it  to  Dr.  Jonathan  Crosby  in  1718.  Capt.  Daniel 
Rogers,  blacksmith,  bought  this  place,  or  a  place  near  by,  of 
Peter  Mason,  in  1735.    He  died  in  1785. 

On  the  west  side  of  the  road  is  a  very  old  house.  James  Smith 
was  licensed  to  keep  a  public  house  here  in  1686.  His  grandson, 
John,  is  called  "innkeeper,"  and  he  died  in  1739.  Master  John 
Smith  lived  here  in  Revolutionary  times,  and  his  daughter,  Sarah, 
married  Seth  S.  Walker  in  1810.  This  location  was  reckoned 
within  the  region  called  "Broth  Hill"  and  the  rhyme  has  been 
handed  down : 

"Broth  Hill,  the  city  of  Seth ; 
Were  it  not  for  Joe  Coe, 
They  would  all  starve  to  death. " 

Joseph  Coe  was  a  ship-builder,  and  many  of  his  workmen 
lived  in  cottages  on  Broth  Hill.  After  Walker's  time  the  old 
Smith  mansion  was  dwelt  in  by  John  Drew.  It  now  belongs  to 
the  Ffrost  family. 

Next  north  of  the  old  Smith  inn  is  a  stone  house,  built  in 
recent  times  by  Howard  and  James  Paul.  James  was  killed  in 
taking  down  the  staging.  Here  lived  Rev.  Mr.  Barnum  and  Rev. 
C.  H.  Chapin.  Next  to  this  is  the  house  built  by  Lieut. -Col. 
Winborn  Adams,  who  acquired  land  here  of  Derry  Pitman.  Here 
he  and  his  wife,  Sarah,  kept  an  inn,  and  town  meetings  were 
sometimes  held  here.  The  place  is  now  owned  by  Fred  E.  Jenkins. 
The  frame  and  the  foundation  for  the  chimney  are  about  all 
that  remains  of  the  old  house.  The  latter  is  of  massive  stone 
and  fills  about  half  of  the  cellar.  The  first  meetings  of  the  pro- 
prietors of  Holderness  were  held  in  this  inn,  from  1762  to  about 
1768.  Later  they  were  held  in  the  inn  of  John  Layn  at  New- 
town, in  Lee. 

Evidence  abundant  has  been  cited  in  the  chapter  on  Early 
Settlers  and  Estates,  page  70,  to  prove  that  Valentine  Hill  built 
a  house  on  the  north  side  of  the  river  and  not  far  from  his  mill 
as  early  as  1649.  In  the  Dover  rate-list  for  1661  is  found  "Mr. 
Hills  mill  and  house  and  lands."  Capt.  Nathaniel  Hill,  son  of 
Valentine,  lived  here.  Bartholomew  Stevenson  built  a  house 
on  the  hill,  not  far  from  Hill's  house,  about  1687.     Tradition 


342 


HISTORY    OF    DURHAM 


says  that  the  house  built  by  Valentine  Hill  is  now  the  so-called 
Ffrost  house.  Additions  and  repairs  have  been  made,  but  the 
appearance  of  the  oldest  part  of  the  house  warrants  the  belief 
that  here  is  the  original  house  built  by  the  leading  man  of  Oyster 
River,  about  1649.  Its  location,  both  for  defence  and  for  com- 
manding view,  was  the  only  suitable  place  for  the  wealthy  mill- 
owner  to  live.  There  is  no  record  that  the  Indians  even  attempted 
to  capture  it  in  1694.  The  house  and  land  about  it  passed  into 
the  possession  cf  Jonathan  Woodman,  who  sold  it  to  George 
Ffrost  after  1796,  and  it  has  been  occupied  by  the  Ffrost  family 


Interior  of  Residence  of  Miss  Margaret  B.  Ffrost 

The  portraits  on   the  wall  are  of  her  great-great-grandfather,  John  Frost 
and  his  wife,  Mary  (Pepperrell)  who  was  sister  of  Sir  William  Pepperrell 

until  now.  The  rare,  antique  furniture  well  befits  the  abode. 
Here  for  over  two  centuries  and  a  half  has  been  the  home  of 
comparative  wealth,   comfort   and   beautiful   surroundings. 

The  house  once  owned  by  Capt.  Joseph  Richardson  was  a 
licensed  hotel.  Here  town  and  jury  meetings  have  been  held. 
Capt.  Richardson  was  born  in  Boston,  25  December  1756.  He 
served  six  years  in  the  Revolutionary  War  and  was  twice  wounded. 
His  son,  John  A.  Richardson,  lived  and  died  in  this  house.  His 
daughter,  Mrs.  Frances  P.  Tread  well,  sold  the  place  and  after 
extensive  repairs  it  became  the  residence  of  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
George  H.  Mendell.     Mrs.  Mendell  was  formerly  Miss  Mary  B. 


HISTORY   OF   DURHAM 


343 


Smith,   daughter  of   Hon.   Hamilton  Smith,  grand-daughter  of 
Judge  Valentine  Smith. 

The  Hamilton  Smith  house  was  built  by  the  Rev.  John  Blyden- 
burgh  and  afterward  was  owned  by  his  daughter,  Margaret.  It 
has  been  owned  by  Prof.  John  S.  Woodman,  George  Ffrost, 
Joshua  B.  Smith,  Irene  Cheney,  Mary  H.  Chesley,  Mary  E. 
Smith  and  Hamilton  Smith,  who  bought  it  2  December  1895. 
He  made  extensive  improvements  in  the  place,  adding  quite  a 
portion  of  the  Buzzell  field  in  the  rear  as  well  as  the  Mary  H. 


Residence  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  George  H.  Mendell 


Chesley  lot  in  front,  making  it  the  most  valuable  homestead 
in  Durham.  The  house  is  known  as  "Red  Tower"  and  is 
owned  by  Mrs.  Shirley  Onderdonk,  daughter  of  Mrs.  Hamilton 
Smith  by  her  first  marriage.  The  spacious  garden  in  front,  on 
the  opposite  side  of  the  road,  is  free  to  all  lovers  of  the  beauti- 
ful. The  accompanying  picture  describes  the  exterior  of  the 
house  far  better  than  words  can  do.  The  interior  is  the  abode 
of  comfort,  artistic  elegance,  peace  and  happy  memories.  The 
village  school  was  located  on  the  vestry  lot  east  of  this  house 


HISTORY   OF   DURHAM  345 

until  1854,  when  the  schoolhouse  was  built  where  now  the 
grange  hall  is  located.  When  the  Mary  H.  Chesley  lot  was 
sold,  in  1895,  the  house  thereon  was  removed  to  a  lot  near 
the  college,  owned  by  Dea.  W.  S.  Meserve,  and  was  ex- 
tensively iepaired.  This  old  house  was  located  very  near  the 
Joshua  B.  Smith  house  and  was  owned  by  Ephraim  Folsom, 
who  died  in  1785.  Robert  Lapish,  Jr.,  Dr.  John  Angier  and 
Jacob  Odell,  lived  here.  There  was  a  house  on  the  east  side  of 
the  Mary  H.  Chesley  house  until  1867,  when  it  was  destroyed 
by  fire.  It  was  then  owned  by  Mrs.  Alfred  Chesley.  Judge 
Jonathan  Steele  owned  this  place  and  lived  here  till  he  built 
the  present  Coe  house.  Steele  sold  the  place,  17  February  18 13, 
to  James  Durgin,  Jr.  Dr.  Jedediah  Ingalls  once  owned  and  oc- 
cupied this  house. 

The  house  now  owned  by  Joshua  B.  Smith  and  his  sister, 
Miss  Mary  E.  Smith,  was  bought  by  their  father,  Hon.  Valen- 
tine Smith,  at  auction  sale,  7  December  1814.  It  had  been 
previously  owned  by  William  Ballard,  who  was  born  6  February 
1787,  and  died  26  October  181 1.  Prior  to  him  it  was  owned 
by  Stephen  Cogan,  and  before  him  James  Drisco,  a  mariner 
from  Portsmouth,  owned  the  place.  He  died  31  January  1778. 
Before  Drisco  the  place  was  owned  by  John  Layn,  blacksmith, 
who  bought  it  of  Nathaniel  Hill,  23  May  1763.  Tradition  in  the 
Layn  family  says  the  house  was  built  in  1735.  When  the  Rev. 
George  Whitefield  passed  through  Durham,  he  dined  in  the 
east  front  room. 

The  land  where  the  Ebenezer  Smith  house  stands  was  originally 
owned  by  Valentine  Hill  and  was  sold  by  Nathaniel  Hill  to 
Jonathan  Clough,  16  January  1761.  After  being  owned  by 
various  members  of  the  Clough  family  it  was  sold  by  Zaccheus 
and  Love  Clough  to  Thomas  Pinkham,  7  June  1777.  when  men- 
tion is  made  of  a  dwelling  house  thereon.  Thomas  Pinkham  sold 
to  Ebenezer  Smith,  10  November  1783.  Smith  built  the  presenl 
house,  which  long  has  remained  in  the  Smith  family.  Here  have 
visited  many  of  the  notable  men  of  a  century  ago. 

The  Mary  P.  Thompson  house  was  owned  by  Abraham  Per- 
kins, born  20  January  1771,  who  died  16  January  1863.  and 
before  him  by  Mrs.  Mehitable  (Sheafe)  Smith.  Oliver  C.  1  >e- 
merit  acquired  it  in  1837,  and  he  and  wife,  Sarah,  sold  it  to  Miss 
Mary  P.  Thompson,  2  November   i860,  for  $1,035.     Through 


HISTORY    OF   DURHAM 


347 


her  will  it  was  inherited  by  Hon.  Lucien  Thompson.  Here  Miss 
Thompson  lived  and  wrote  her  Landmarks  in  Ancient  Dover 
and  pursued  her  genealogical  and  historical  researches.  William 
Ballard  traded  in  a  little  shop  on  this  lot. 

The  Benjamin  Thompson  house  was  purchased  by  Benjamin 


Thompson,  Sr.,  2  April  1790,  of  his  brother-in-law,  James  Leigh- 
ton.  Benjamin  Thompson,  Jr.,  inherited  it  by  will  of  his  father, 
in  1838.  Here  he  was  born  and  died.  He  bequeathed  this 
place,  in  1890,  to  the  State  of  New  Hampshiie  for  the  use  of  the 
college.  Miss  Lucetta  M.  Davis  remained  in  the  house  a  short 
time.    It  was  afterward  repaired  and  was  occupied  by  President 


HISTORY   OF   DURHAM  349 

C.  S.  Murkland  till  1895.     It  was  then  used  as  a  girls'  dormitory 
until  it  was  destroyed  by  fire,  Sunday,  12  December  1897.1 

The  house  now  owned  by  Charles  E.  Hoitt  was  built  by  Joshua 
Ballard,  who  bought  the  land  1  October  1782.  The  land  had 
been  previously  owned  in  succession  by  Valentine  Hill,  Nathaniel 
Hill,  Dea.  Hubbard  Stevens,  Moses  Emerson,  Capt.  Abednego 
Leathers,  Daniel  Hardy.  The  house  passed  from  Joshua  Ballard 
to  his  daughter,  Elizabeth  Smith,  and  has  since  been  owned  by 
Joshua  B.  Smith,  Eugene  Thurston  and  Gen.  Alfred  Hoitt. 
The  Rev.  Alvan  Tobey,  D.  D.,  lived  in  this  house  during  the 
last  of  his  long  pastorate  in  Durham. 

The  house  now  owned  by  Mrs.  Ann  M.  Jenkins  was  built  by 
Stephen  Mitchell,  Esq.,  who  began  practice  as  a  lawyer  in  Dur- 
ham in  1805.  It  was  afterward  owned  by  a  Mr.  Flanders,  who 
died  in  1833.  It  has  since  been  owned  and  occupied  Dr.  Thomas 
Flanders,  Dr.  Alphonso  Bickford,  Zilla  B.  Burbank,  and  Mrs. 
Silas  Jenkins. 

The  Mathes-Talbot-Parsons  house  is  said  to  have  been  built 
by  Daniel  Mathes,  because  his  wife  would  not  live  at  Durham 
Point.  Daniel  Mathes  married,  26  January  1806,  Abigail, 
daughter  of  the  Rev.  Curtis  Coe.  She  died  11  January  1807, 
aged  23,  and  he  married  Betty  Folsom,  and  moved  back  to  the 
Point.  The  house  was  afterward  owned  and  occupied  by  Maj. 
Benjamin  Mathes,  John  McDaniel,  Rev.  Henry  L.  Talbot, 
and  Prof.  Charles  L.  Parsons.  The  last  two  made  extensive 
improvements  in  the  house  and  grounds,  making  it  one  of  the 
best  residences  in  town.    It  is  now  occupied  by  a  club  of  students. 

The  first  house  below  J.  W.  Coe's,  going  toward  Pascataqua 
bridge,  was  brought  up  the  river  from  "Franklin  City  by  John 
T.  Emerson,"  he  having  bought  the  same  from  Ballard  Pinkham 
in  1 82 1.  The  land  once  belonged  to  the  Jackson  and  Leathers 
families,  and  was  bought  by  Mr.  Emerson  of  Philip  and  Joseph 
Chesley.  It  has  recently  been  acquired  by  Prof.  C.  Floyd 
Jackson  and  extensively  repaired. 

Not  far  from  the  Falls,  in  the  low  ground  called  Follett's  swamp 
or  Moharimet's  swamp,  Eli  Demeritt  built  his  log  cabin  on  land 
granted  before  1700.  It  had  one  room  and  no  cellar.  Later 
he  built  a  log  house  of  two  rooms.  His  grandson,  Capt.  Samuel 
Demeritt,  built  upon  the  same  spot  a  framed  house  of  two  stories 

1  A  picture  of  this  house  appeared  \r\Granite  Monthly,  vol.xxxiii.  page  429. 


HISTORY   OF   DURHAM  35 1 

in  front  with  a  lean-to.  The  brick  for  the  chimney  were  from  old 
England,  and  the  bottom  of  the  oven  was  of  tiles,  eight  inches 
square,  which  had  a  crown  stamped  on  one  side  with  lettering. 
In  the  present  house,  in  possession  of  Albert  DeMeritt,  the 
doors  of  the  cupboards  in  the  kitchen  and  dining  room  were  from 
the  old  house,  and  the  upper  part  of  the  beaufet  is  in  the  attic. 
In  the  sitting  room  and  dining  room  hearths  the  tiles  may  still 
be  seen.  Some  of  the  windows  were  of  diamond-shape,  leaded 
panes.  The  house  was  unpainted,  ceiled  and  paneled.  From 
Capt.  Samuel  Demeritt  the  place  was  inherited  by  his  son, 
Israel,  who  built  the  present  house  in  1808.  The  brick  were 
made  on  the  farm.  Israel  Demeritt  was  succeeded  in  owmership 
by  his  son,  Stephen,  and  from  him  it  passed  to  the  present  owner,, 
who  has  added  many  acres  to  the  farm.  He  is  the  great-great- 
great-grandson  of  the  Eli  Demeritt  to  whom  the  land  was  granted 
and  laid  out  31  May  1699.  The  farm  is  one  of  the  largest  and 
most  productive  in  Durham,  and  the  house  and  well-shaded  lawn, 
with  outlook  upon  broad  meadows,  are  a  delight  to  one  who 
appreciates  home  comforts  and  rural  scenery. 

Across  the  fields  another  Demeritt  house  was  built  by  Capt. 
Nathaniel  Demeritt,  brother  of  Israel  above  named.  It  was 
rebuilt  by  Capt.  Nathaniel  and  his  son,  the  Rev.  William  De- 
meritt, about  1819.  The  first  was  a  one  story  and  a  half 
house.  The  present  house,  beneath  the  old  elms,  is  owned  by 
George  P.  Demeritt,  son  of  the  Rev.  William. 

The  Bunker  garrison  house  was  probably  built  by  James 
Bunker  soon  after  1652,  when  he  bought  the  land  on  which 
its  ruins  now  lie.  The  walls,  except  the  gable  ends,  were  of  hewn 
hemlock  legs,  nine  inches  in  thickness.  There  were  loopholes 
for  defence,  afterward  enlarged  into  windows.  This  was  the 
last  remaining  garrison  of  Oyster  River  that  was  attacked  by  the 
Indians  in  1694.  It  seems  to  be  decayed  and  fallen  beyond 
the  power  of  restoration.  The  plan  of  this  garrison  is  pre- 
sented through  the  courtesy  of  the  Society  for  the  Preservation 
of  New  England  Antiquities.     See  page  63. 

Woodman's  garrison  was  built  by  Capt.  John  Woodman 
soon  after  1656,  when  he  came  to  Oyster  River.  In  1660  he 
had  a  grant  of  twenty  acres  between  lands  of  William  Beard 
and  Valentine  Hill.  Miss  Mary  P.  Thompson  thus  describes  it: 
"It  is  beautifully  situated  on  the  eastern  slope  of  a  hill  at  the 


352 


HISTORY    OF   DURHAM 


head  of  Beard's  creek,  with  brooks  and  deep  ravines  on  every 
side  of  the  acclivity,  except  at  the  west.  It  has  a  fine  outlook 
for  an  approaching  enemy,  as  well  as  a  charming  view  in  every 
direction,  except  in  the  rear,  where  the  rise  of  land  intercepts 


the  prospect.  Durham  village,  which  did  not  exist  when  this 
garrison  was  built,  lies  at  the  south  in  full  view,  embosomed 
among  trees;  and  at  the  east  may  be  traced  the  windings  of 
Oyster  River  on  its  way  to  the  Pascataqua.    At  the  north,  through 


HISTORY   OF    DURHAM 


353 


an  opening  between  the  hills,  can  be  seen  the  spot  where  the 
Huckins  garrison  stood;  and  nearer  at  hand,  but  separated  from 


Woodman  Garrison 

Destroyed  by  fire  November  1896 

it  by  a  profound  ravine,  is  the  field  where  occurred  the  massacre 
of  1689. "l 

This  garrison  was  destroyed   by   fire,   8   November    1896,    a 

'Landmarks  in  Ancient  Dover,  p.  179. 
23 


3  56  HISTORY   OF    DURHAM 

loss  that  caused  sadness  to  every  lover  of  the  town's  historic 
memorials.  Fortunately  good  photographs  exist  of  the  garrison 
as  it  was  in  its  best  days,  and  some  thoughtful  and  prompt 
artist  secured  snap  shots  of  it  while  it  was  burning. 

The  garrison  built  by  David  Davis  at  Lubberland  in  1695  is 
probably  the  same  as  the  Smith  garrison,  having  been  acquired 
by  Lieut.  John  Smith  some  time  after  David  Davis  was  killed 
by  Indians,  27  August  1696.  Later  it  was  known  as  Frost's 
garrison  and  Blydenburgh's  garrison.  It  was  taken  down  only 
a  few  years  ago  and  the  road  now  runs  over  its  site.  A  good 
picture  of  it  has  been  preserved.     See  page  34. 

Another  garrison  was  built  by  David  Davis,  son  of  the  above 
named,  at  Packer's  Falls,  early  in  the  eighteenth  century,  where 
five  generations  of  David  Da  vises  have  lived.  The  original 
garrison  was  located  on  a  knoll  in  the  center  of  the  field 
back  of  its  present  location,  to  which  it  was  moved  prior  to 
1790  in  order  to  be  on  the  highway.  Additions  have  been 
made  by  later  generations,  so  that  the  garrison  of  pre- 
Revolutionary  times  forms  but  a  part  of  the  present  building, 
occupied  by  Eben  Meserve  Davis. 

The  Pendergast  garrison  is  still  standing  and  occupied.  It 
was  probably  built  by  Stephen  Pendergast,  who  acquired  land 
here  near  Packer's  Falls,  in  1735. 

Half  a  mile  from  Durham  village,  toward  Madbury,  on  an 
elevated  space  to  which  the  road  gently  ascends,  is  the  house 
built  by  Judge  Ebenezer  Thompson  soon  after  the  Revolution 
on  land  that  has  been  in  possession  of  the  Thompson  family  from 
the  first  grant,  in  1694.  The  house  was  erected  on  the  site  of  an 
older  one,  in  which  Judge  Thompson  was  born.  It  is  a  typical 
rural  dwelling  of  the  well-to-do  persons  of  that  time,  squarely 
built  around  a  huge  chimney,  with  large  rooms  of  low  ceiling, 
a  fireplace  in  every  room,  heavy  mouldings  and  cornices  and 
a  lot  of  wainscoting.  It  is  still  painted  white,  with  green  blinds, 
the  best  combination  of  house  colors  New  England  has  ever 
had.  It  was  a  year's  work  for  a  carpenter  to  prepare  the  exterior 
and  interior  finishing  material.  In  the  hall-chamber,  specially 
reserved  for  guests,  the  same  paper  is  on  the  walls  that  was 
there  a  century  ago.  On  this  spot  Judge  Thompson  entertained 
many  of  the  leading  men  of  the  Revolutionary  period,  and  in  this 
house  he  was  often  consulted  on  politics,  medicine  and  law.     It 


HISTORY    OF   DURHAM  357 

was  in  the  "hall-room,"  or  parlor  that  he  fell  from  his  chair 
and  instantly  expired,  in  1802. 

An  east  two-story  wing  was  added  to  the  house  by  its  present 
owner,  Col.  Lucien  Thompson,  in  1895,  and  in  it  he  has  the  rare 
library,  photographs  and  souvenirs  that  his  aunt,  Mary  P. 
Thompson,  gathered  during  her  years  spent  in  Europe.  Here 
is  a  very  valuable  collection  of  historical  and  genealogical  ma- 
terial that  several  generations  have  been  acquiring.  One  would 
have  to  search  long  in  New  Hampshire  to  find  its  equal  in  any 
private  house. 

The  spacious  lawn  and  shade  trees,  the  commodious  barn, 
stable  and  carriage  house,  the  fertile  acres  and  the  orchard  of 
five  hundred  trees,  make  the  visitor  envy  or  congratulate  the 
owner.  If  the  visitor  has  the  true  riches  of  the  soul,  then  it  is 
congratulation  and  not  envy. 

The  residence  of  Forrest  S.  Smith  was  built  in  1803  by  Major 
Daniel  Smith  and  his  son,  Major  Winthrop  Smith.  The  former 
house  stood  farther  back  from  the  turnpike,  on  ascending  ground 
down  the  lane  which  led  to  the  Dover  road.  It  was  a  two-story 
house  in  front,  sloping  off  to  one  story  in  the  rear.  Tradition 
says  that  Major  Daniel  Smith  insisted  on  having  the  big  chimney 
in  the  center  of  this  house  after  the  style  of  those  days,  so 
that  at  the  gatherings  of  the  militia  they  could  march  around  the 
chimney  at  the  evening  festivities,  after  the  training  was  over. 
This  was  the  grand  promenade  that  preceded  the  dancing. 

The  present  house  is  beautifully  situated  among  shade  trees 
and  affords  a  fine  view  of  Oyster  River  and  Little  Bay.  It  has 
been  extensively  repaired.  Heat,  running  water  and  bathroom 
bring  the  modern  conveniences  of  the  city  to  the  roominess,  quiet, 
restfulness  and  hospitality  of  the  country.  At  many  a  week's 
end  a  party  from  Boston  alights  from  a  large  touring  car  at  the 
front  gate,  for  the  old-fashioned  front  yard,  filled  with  flowers 
and  shrubs  and  protected  by  ornamental  fence,  still  preserves  one 
of  the  best  rural  traditions.  Several  hundred  acres  of  fertile 
land  certainly  add  to  the  attractiveness  of  the  place.  It  is  sajd 
that  the  difference  between  the  farmer  and  the  agriculturalist  is 
this,  that  the  farmer  makes  his  money  in  the  country  to  spend  it 
in  the  city,  while  the  agriculturalist  makes  his  money  in  the  city 
to  spend  it  in  the  country;  but  Forrest  S.  Smith  was  a  successful 
farmer  before  he  began  to  be  an  agriculturalist.     Here  the  re- 


HISTORY   OF   DURHAM 


359 


markably  youthful  mother  of  four  score  years  finds  rest  and  offers 
it  to  friends,  contented  to  linger  longer  amid  beautiful  earthly 
surroundings  before  moving  into  the  mansion  in  the  skies. 

The  last  illustration  of  this  chapter  is  presented,  not  because 
it  is  one  of  the  old  houses,  but  it  is  a  new  house  on  an  old  site 
and  serves  to  contrast  former  days  with  the  present.     It  is  the 


Summer  Camp  of  Elisha  R.  Brown 
Near  site  of  Meader  Garrison 


summer  camp  of  Elisha  R.  Brown  of  Dover,  president  of  the 
Strafford  National  Bank.  It  is  built  near  the  site  of  the  Meader 
garrison,  at  what  was  first  known  as  "Hills  Neck."  The  land 
was  long  in  the  possession  of  the  Meader  family.  On  this  neck 
of  land,  between  Royall's  Cove  and  the  mouth  of  Oyster  River, 
the  three  towns,  Dover,  Madbury  and  Durham,  meet  at  Tickle 
Point.  The  view  from  Mr.  Brown's  camp  takes  in  Little  Bay 
and  its  islands  and  the  Newington  and  Durham  shores.     Dover 


360 


HISTORY    OF    DURHAM 


Neck  is  in  the  distance  toward  the  east.  Mr.  Brown  married 
Frances,  daughter  of  Dr.  Alphonso  and  Mary  Joanna  (Smith) 
Bickford,  and  thus  is  connected  with  two  of  the  oldest  families 
of  Durham,  as  may  be  seen  in  the  genealogical  part  of  this 
history.     It  may  be  added  that  on  this  neck  of  land  was  once 


Interior  of  Mr.  Brown's  Camp 


laid  out  Franklin  City,  a  booming  town  on  paper,  which  the 
building  of  Pascataqua  bridge  was  expected  to  develop.  The 
dream  soon  vanished.  The  lots  are  there  still,  but  the  only 
house  built  there  was  long  ago  moved  up  toward  the  Falls.1 

1  For  further  description  of  this  place  and  its  surroundings,  as  well  as  biography  of  Mr. 
Brown,  see  Granite  Mo>  thly  for  September  1912,  article  written  by  John  Scales,  A.  M. 


LISTS  OF  TOWN  OFFICERS 


Moderators 

Before  the  separation  of  Durham  from  Dover,  1732,  the  fol- 
lowing men  from  Oyster  River  Parish  served  as  moderators  of 
Dover  town  meetings,  Capt.  John  Woodman  in  1675,  Col.  James 
Davis  in  1702,  1713,  1715,  1720-21,  1728-31,  Capt.  Francis 
Mathes  in  1728,  and  Capt.  Stephen  Jones  in  1730  and  1731. 
The  moderators  since  the  formation  of  the  town  of  Durham  have 
been  the  following. 


1732, 

Col.  James  Davis. 

1762, 

Joseph  Atkinson,  Esq. 

1733, 

Lieut.  Jonathan  Thompson. 

1763, 

Joseph  Atkinson,  Esq. 

1734, 

Lieut.  Samuel  Smith. 

1764, 

Joseph  Atkinson,  Esq. 

Col.  James  Davis. 

1765, 

Capt.  Benjamin  Smith. 

1735, 

Lieut.  Samuel  Smith. 

1766, 

Dea.  Hubbard  Stevens. 

Col.  James  Davis. 

1767, 

Ephraim  Davis. 

1736, 

Col.  James  Davis. 

1768, 

Maj.  Stephen  Jones. 

1737, 

Lieut.  Jonathan  Thompson. 

1769, 

Joseph  Atkinson,  Esq. 

1738, 

Col.  James  Davis. 

1770, 

Dea.  Hubbard  Stevens. 

1739, 

Col.  James  Davis. 

I77i, 

Joseph  Atkinson. 

Lieut.  Stephen  Jones. 

1772, 

Valentine  Mathes,  Esq. 

1740, 

James  Davis,  Esq. 

1773, 

Joseph  Atkinson,  Esq. 

I74i, 

Col.  James  Davis. 

1774, 

Valentine  Mathes,  Esq. 

1742, 

Capt.  Stephen  Jones. 

Joseph  Atkinson. 

James  Davis,  Esq. 

1775, 

Valentine  Mathes. 

1743, 

John  Woodman. 

Moses  Emerson. 

1744, 

Samuel  Smith,  Esq. 

George  Frost,  Esq. 

Stephen  Jones. 

Maj.  Stephen  Jones. 

1745, 

Capt.  Jonathan  Thompson. 

Mr.  Ephraim  Davis. 

1746, 

Samuel  Smith. 

1776, 

George  Frost,  Esq. 

i747> 

Samuel  Smith. 

Mr.  Ephraim  Davis. 

1748, 

Lieut.  Philip  Chesley. 

1777, 

George  Frost,  Esq. 

1749, 

Lieut.  Philip  Chesley. 

Maj.  Stephen  Jones. 

1750, 

Joseph  Thomas. 

Valentine  Mathes,  Esq. 

1751, 

Joseph  Thomas. 

1778, 

Maj.  Stephen  Jones. 

1752, 

Joseph  Sias. 

Valentine  Mathes,  Esq. 

1753. 

Joseph  Thomas. 

1779, 

Col.  Samuel  Chesley. 

1754, 

William  Drew. 

Hon.  George  Frost,  Esq. 

1755, 

Lieut.  Philip  Chesley. 

1780, 

Valentine  Mathes,  Esq. 

1757, 

Benjamin  Smith, 

1781, 

George  Frost,  Esq. 

1758, 

Hubbard  Stevens. 

Maj.  Gen.  John  Sullivan 

1759, 

William  Drew. 

1782, 

Valentine  Mathes,  Esq. 

1761, 

Joseph  Thomas. 

Hon.  John  Sullivan,  Esq 

361 


362                                            HISTORY   OF 

DURHAM 

1783,  Hon.  John  Sullivan,  Esq. 

1 812,  George  Frost. 

Ebenezer  Thompson,  Esq. 

Jonathan  Steele. 

1784,  Hon.  John  Sullivan. 

1813,  George  Frost. 

1785,  Col.  Samuel  Chesley. 

1 8 14,  George  Frost. 

1786,  Hon.  M.  G.  John  Sullivan. 

George  Hull. 

Capt.  Joseph  Young. 

1815,  Ichabod  Bartlett. 

1787,  His  Excellency,  John  Sullivan, 

1816,  Ichabod  Bartlett. 

Esq. 

Benjamin  Mathes,  Jr 

1788,  His  Excellency,  John  Sullivan, 

1817,  Daniel  Mathes. 

Esq. 

1818,  Joseph  Coe. 

1789,  Hon.  George  Frost,  Esq. 

1819,  Joseph  Coe. 

1790,  Hon.  Ebenezer  Thompson,  Esq. 

1820,  Joseph  Chesley,  3d. 

1 791,  Hon.  Ebenezer  Thompson,  Esq. 

Jacob  Odell. 

1792,  Col.  Samuel  Adams. 

1821,  Joseph  Chesley,  3d. 

Ebenezer  Thompson,  Esq. 

1822,  Joseph  Chesley,  3d. 

1793,  John  Blydenburgh. 

Winthrop  Smith. 

Yalentine  Mathes,  Esq. 

1823,  Joseph  Chesley,  3d. 

1794,  John  Blydenburgh. 

1824,  Joseph  W.  Page. 

Yalentine  Mathes. 

1825,  James  Langley. 

1795,  John  Blydenburgh. 

1826,  John  A.  Richardson. 

1796,  John  Blydenburgh. 

1827,  George  Hull. 

Samuel  Adams. 

1828,  George  Ffrost. 

Capt.  Joseph  Young. 

Richard  Ela. 

1797,  Ebenezer  Smith,  Esq. 

1829,  Moses  Noble. 

Col.  Samuel  Adams. 

1830,  Joseph  Chesley,  3d. 

1798,  John  Blydenburgh. 

1 83 1,  Joseph  W.  Page. 

William  Ballard. 

1832,  Joseph  \V.  Page. 

Col.  Samuel  Adams. 

1833,  John  A.  Richardson. 

1799,  Ebenezer  Thompson,  Jr. 

1834,  George  Hull. 

1800,  Ebenezer  Thompson,  Jr. 

1835,  John  A.  Richardson. 

Ebenezer  Smith,  Esq. 

1836,  Benjamin  Doe. 

Andrew  Simpson. 

1837,  George  Hull. 

1801,  John  Blydenburgh. 

1838,  Dr.  Richard  Steele. 

1802,  Col.  Timothy  Emerson. 

1839,  Benjamin  Kelly. 

Jonathan  Steele,  Esq. 

1840,  Stephen  Demeritt. 

1803,  Col.  Timothy  Emerson. 

1841,  Stephen  Demeritt. 

1804,  Andrew  Simpson. 

1842,  James  Langley. 

Jonathan  Steele,  Esq. 

1843,  Stephen  Demeritt. 

Col.  Timothy  Emerson. 

1844,  Stephen  Demeritt. 

1805,  Mr.  Andrew  Simpson. 

1845,  Stephen  Demeritt. 

1806,  Ebenezer  Smith,  Esq. 

John  A.  Richardson. 

Ebenezer  Doe. 

Seth  S.  Walker. 

1807,  Ebenezer  Smith,  Esq. 

1846,  William  J.  Chesley. 

1808,  Ebenezer   Smith,  Esq. 

1847,  John  S.  Shaw. 

Mr.  John  Frost. 

1848,  William  J.  Chesley. 

1809,  Andrew  Simpson. 

1849,  Joseph  S.  Burnham. 

1810,  John  Frost. 

1850,  Joseph  S.  Burnham. 

181 1,  Jonathan  Steele. 

1 85 1,  Daniel  Smith. 

HISTORY   OF   DURHAM 


363 


1852,  Daniel  Smith. 

[877,  Joshua  B.  Smith. 

Greenleaf  Nute. 

[878,  Joshua  B.  Smith. 

1853,  Stephen  Demeritt. 

[879,  Albert  DeMeritt. 

1854,  Stephen  Demeritt. 

[880,  Albert  DeMeritt. 

1855,  Cyrus  G.  Hull. 

Joshua  B.  Smith. 

1856,  John  S.  Woodman. 

[881,  Joshua  B.  Smith. 

l&57>  Joseph  S.  Burnham. 

[882,  Cyrus  G.  Hull. 

J  858,  Henry  A.  Drew. 

Albert  DeMeritt. 

i860,  Henry  A.  Drew. 

[883,  Cyrus  G.  Hull. 

Cyrus  G.  Hull. 

884,  Hamilton  A.  Mathes. 

William  Wiggin. 

[885,  Albert  DeMeritt. 

1861,  William  Wiggin. 

886,  Albert  DeMeritt. 

1862,  Cyrus  G.  Hull.                                     ] 

887,  Albert  DeMeritt. 

1863,  Cyrus  G.  Hull.                                    ] 

888,  Albert  DeMeritt. 

1864,  James  M.  Bunker.                              ] 

889,  Albert  DeMeritt. 

1865,  James  M.  Bunker. 

890,  Albert  DeMeritt. 

1866,  Joseph  Smith. 

Hamilton  A.  Mathes. 

1867,  Joseph  S.  Burnham. 

891,  Hamilton  A.  Mathes. 

1868,  Joseph  S.  Burnham.                           ] 

892,  Lucien     Thompson, 

for     two 

Joseph  C.  Bartlett. 

years. 

1869,  Joseph  S.  Burnham.                           ] 

894,  Lucien      Thompson, 

for    two 

1870,  Hamilton  A.  Mathes. 

years. 

1871,  Hamilton  A.  Mathes. 

896,  Lucien     Thompson, 

for     two 

1872,  Hamilton  A.  Mathes. 

years. 

Jeremiah  Langley.                              ] 

898,  Winthrop  S.  Meserve 

,  for  two 

I873,  Joshua  B.  Smith. 

years. 

1874,  Joshua  B.  Smith.                                 ] 

900-13,  Arioch  W.  Griffith 

s. 

l875>  Joshua  B.  Smith.                                 ] 

913,  Albert  DeMeritt,  pro  1 

em. 

1876,  Joshua  B.  Smith. 

Town  Clerks 


1732-36,  Francis  Mathes. 
1736-61,  Samuel  Smith. 
1761-66,  Joseph  Smith. 
1766-74,  Ebenezer  Thompson. 
1774-92,  John  Smith,  3d. 
1792-93,  William  Smith. 
1793,  1802,  Ebenezer  Thompson. 
1802-19,  Valentine  Smith. 
1819-23,  Alfred  Smith. 
1823-27,  Moses  Noble. 
1827-38,  Valentine  Smith. 
1838-40,  Samuel  Burnham. 
1840-44,  Benjamin  Kelly. 

1844,  Samuel  P.  Chesley. 

1845,  John  A.  Richardson. 


1846-51,  Joseph  Coe. 
1851-56,  Joshua  B.  Smith. 
1856-64,  Samuel  Runlett. 
1864-68,  John  W.  E.  Thompson. 
1868-72,  Samuel  Runlett. 
1872-74,  Valentine  Mathes,  Jr. 

1874,  Samuel  Runlett. 

1875,  Calvin  Sanders. 
1876-80,  Valentine  Mathes,  Jr. 
1880-87,  Samuel  Runlett,  Jr. 

1887,        Jasper  McDaniel,  resigned. 
1887,        Samuel  Runlett,  Jr. 
1888-1904,  George  D.  Stevens. 
1904-13,  Charles  Wentworth. 


364 


HISTORY   OF   DURHAM 


Representatives   for   Dover   from   Oyster   River   Parish 


1652-57,  Valentine  Hill. 
1684,         John  Woodman. 
1690,        Capt.  John  Woodman. 
1692-95,  John  Woodman. 
1696,        Thomas  Chesley. 
1697-98,  James  Davis. 
1699,        Capt.  John  Woodman. 
1 701,        James  Davis. 
1703,         Nathaniel  Hill. 


1704-06,  Capt.  John  Woodman. 

1706-09,  Lieut.  Nathaniel  Hill. 

1 715,        Stephen  Jones. 

1 715-17,  James  Davis. 

1722,        James  Davis 

T727,        John  Smith. 

1728,        Capt.  Francis  Mathes. 

1731,        Capt.  Francis  Mathes. 


Representatives  of  Durham 


1732, 

1733-34, 

1735, 

1736-40, 

1741-44, 

1745-47, 

1748-51, 

1752-55, 

1756-58, 

1759-65, 

1766-75, 

1776-83, 

1784, 

1785-86, 

1786-87, 


Francis  Mathes.  1821-22, 

Lieut.  Samuel  Smith.  1823, 

Jonathan  Chesley.  1824-25, 

Samuel  Smith.  1826-27, 

Jonathan  Thompson.  1828, 

Jonathan  Chesley.  1829-30, 

Jonathan  Thompson.  1831-32, 

Joseph  Thomas.  1 833-34, 

Stephen  Jones,  Jr.  1835-36, 

Joseph  Smith.  J837-38, 

Ebenezer  Thompson.  1839, 

John  Smith,  3d.  1840-41, 

Ebenezer  Smith,  Esq.  1842, 

Maj.  Gen.  John  Sullivan.  1843, 

Ebenezer  Thompson,  Esq.  1844, 
John    Sullivan,    Speaker    of       1844, 

the  House.  1845-46, 

1789-90,  Ebenezer  Smith,  Esq.  1847, 

1 791,         No  election.  1848-49, 

1792-93,  Ebenezer  Smith,  Esq.  1850, 

1793-95,  Ebenezer  Thompson,  Jr.  1851-52, 

1796,        Voted  not  to  send.  1853-54, 

1797-99,  Ebenezer  Thompson,  Jr.  1855, 

1800-03,  William  Ballard.  1856-57, 

1804,  Capt.  Jonathan  Chesley.  1858-59, 

1805,  Jonathan  Steele,  Esq.  1860-61, 

1806,  Valentine  Smith.  1862, 

1807,  George  Frost.  1863, 
1808-10,  Valentine  Smith.  1864, 
181 1-13,  Joseph  Coe.  1865-66, 
1814-15,  Valentine  Smith.  1867, 
1816-17,  Joseph  Coe.  1868-69, 
1818-19,  Daniel  Mathes.  1870, 
1820,         Robert  Mathes.  1871, 


Benjamin  Mathes,  Jr. 
Robert  Mathes. 
John  Mooney. 
Andrew  G.  Smith. 
No  election. 
Benjamin  Kelly. 
George  Hull. 
Samuel  Burnham. 
Abraham  Mathes. 
Stephen  Demeritt. 
John  Mooney. 
Samuel  Burnham. 
Winthrop  Smith. 
Mark  Willey. 
Winthrop  Smith. 
Stephen  Demeritt. 
Ebenezer  Thompson. 
James  Langley. 
George  J.  Wiggins. 
Mark  Willey. 
Moses  H.  Wiggins. 
Joseph  S.  Burnham. 
Leonard  B.  Smith. 
Benjamin  Doe. 
Andrew  L.  Simpson. 
Andrew  D.  McDaniel. 
William  F.  Jones. 
Henry  A.  Drew. 
William  F.  Jones. 
Joshua  B.  Smith. 
James  M.  Bunker. 
Lafayette  Hall. 
Jacob  Mathes. 
James  M.  Smart. 


HISTORY    OF    DURHAM 


365 


1892, 

Ira  B.  Hill. 

1894, 

Jabez  H.  Stevens. 

1896, 

Daniel  Chesley. 

1898, 

Charles  E.  Hoitt. 

1900, 

James  W.  Burnham 

1902, 

Charles  S.  Langley. 

1904, 

Charles  Wentworth. 

1906, 

Charles  A.  Smart. 

1908, 

David  H.  Fogg. 

1910, 

Albert  DeMeritt. 

1912, 

Albert  DeMeritt. 

Selectmen 

1872-73,  Thomas  H.  Wiswall. 
1874,        Alfred  Hoitt. 
1875-76,  Hamilton  A.  Mathes. 
1877-78,  Eben  M.  Davis. 
1878,        Joshua  B.  Smith. 
1880,        John  W.  E.  Thompson 
1882,        Cyrus  G.  Hull. 
1884,        Mark  H.  Mathes. 
1886,        Lucien  Thompson. 
1888,        James  W.  Burnham. 
1890,        Jeremiah  Langley. 


The  selectmen  of  Dover,  before  Durham  became  a  separate 
township,  have  been  published  in  the  Historical  Memoranda  of 
Ancient  Dover.  A  few  Oyster  River  men  figure  in  those  lists, 
such  as  Valentine  Hill,  Robert  Burnham,  John  Davis,  John 
Bickford,  John  Woddman,  James  Davis,  Nathaniel  Hill,  Stephen 
Jones,  Thomas  Chesley,  Francis  Mathes,  John  Smith,  Capt. 
Samuel  Chesley,  etc.  The  following  is  the  list  after  Oyster  River 
Parish  became  the  town  of  Durham: 

1732,  Lieut.    Samuel    Smith,    Francis    Mathes,    Lieut.    Jonathan    Tomson, 
Thomas  Drew,  Capt.  Jonathan  Chesley. 

1733,  Lieut.   Jonathan   Tomson,  Frances  Mathes,  John  Williams,  Jr.,  John 
Woodman,  Joseph  Jones,  Jr. 

1734,  Mr.  Thomas  Drew,  Lieut.  Jonathan  Tomson,  Lieut.  Samuel  Smith,  Mr. 
John  Woodman,  Francis  Mathes. 

1735,  Lieut.  Jonathan  Tomson,  Francis  Mathes,  Mr.  Thomas  Drew,  Mr.  John 
Woodman,  Lieut.  Samuel  Smith. 

1736,  Lieut.  Stephen  Jones,  Jr.,  Mr.  Joseph  Drew,  Mr.  Nathan'  Randal,  Mr. 
Joseph  Thomas,  Walter  Bryant. 

*737>  John   Woodman,  Samuel   Smith,   Francis   Mathes,   Jonathan  Tomson, 

Wm.  Drew. 
I738>  Jonathan  Tomson,  John  Williams,  Jr.,  Joseph  Whelor. 

1739,  Jonathan  Tomson,  Benjamin  Smith,  John  Williams. 

1740,  Jonathan  Tomson,  Benjamin  Smith,  John  Williams. 

1741,  Jonathan  Tomson,  John  Williams,  Jr.,  Benjamin  Smith. 

1742,  Ephraim  Davis,  Ebenezer  Smith,  Joseph  Atkinson. 

1743,  Ebenezer  Smith,  Joseph  Atkinson,  Ephraim  Davis. 

1744,  Samuel  Smith,  Esq.,  Joseph  Whelor,  William  Drew. 

1745,  Samuel  Smith,  John  Williams,  Joseph  Chesley. 

1746,  Samuel  Smith,  John  Williams,  Jonathan  Tomson. 

1747,  Samuel  Smith,  Joseph  Whelor,  Joseph  Thomas. 

1748,  Samuel  Smith,  Joseph  Whelor,  Joseph  Thomas. 

1749,  Samuel  Smith,  Joseph  Whelor,  Joseph  Thomas. 


366  HISTORY    OF   DURHAM 

750,  Samuel  Smith,  Joseph  Whelor,  Joseph  Thomas. 
[751,  Samuel  Smith,  Joseph  Thomas,  Joseph  Whelor. 
752,  Samuel  Smith,  Joseph  Thomas,  Joseph  Whelor. 
[753,  William  Drew,  Benjamin  Mathes,  James  Smith. 
[754,  William  Drew,  Benjamin  Mathes,  James  Smith. 
[755,  Ebenezer  Smith,  Joseph  Smith,  Joseph  Sias. 
[756,  Ebenezer  Smith,  Joseph  Smith,  Joseph  Sias. 
[757,  Benjamin  Smith,  Joseph  Smith,  Joseph  Sias. 
[758,  Miles  Randal,  Jeremiah  Burnum,  Jr.,  Joseph  Smith. 

759>  Joseph  Smith,  Jeremiah  Burnum,  Jr.,  Miles  Randal. 
1760,  Miles  Randall,  Jeremiah  Burnum,  Joseph  Smith. 
[761,  Joseph  Smith,  Miles  Randal,  Jeremiah  Burnum. 

762,  Joseph  Thomas,  Robert  Thompson,  Jr.,  Jonathan  Woodman. 
[763,  Lieut,  Joseph  Thomas,  Joseph  Smith,  Esq.,  Lieut.  Joseph  Sias. 

"64,  Joseph  Smith,  Joseph  Thomas,  Joseph  Sias. 
[765,  Joshua  Cromet,  Hercules  Moony,  Ebenezer  Thompson. 
[766,  Joshua  Crommet,  Ebenezer  Thompson,  John  Smith,  3d,  Nicholas  Duda... 

and  Robert  Thompson  for  Lee. 
.767,  Joshua  Cromet,  Ebenezer  Thompson,  John  Smith,  3d. 
:768,  Joshua  Cromet,  Ebenezer  Thompson,  John  Smith,  3d. 
[769,  Joshua  Cromett,  Ebenezer  Thompson,  John  Smith,  3d. 
[770,  Joshua  Cromet,  Ebenezer  Thompson,  John  Smith,  3d. 
[77l>  Joshua  Cromet,  Ebenezer  Thompson,  John  Smith,  3d. 
[772,  Lieut.  John  Smith,  Alpheus  Chesley,  Jonathan  Woodman,  3d. 
[773,  John  Smith,  Esq.,  John  Smith,  3d,  Lieut.  Samuel  Chesley. 
774,  John  Smith,  3d,  Lieut.  Samuel  Chesley,  John  Smith,  Esq. 
[775,  Samuel  Chesley,  John  Smith,  3d,  Trueworthy  Durgin,  Jr. 
[776,  Col.  Samuel  Chesley,  John  Smith,  3d,  Trueworthy  Durgin,  Jr.,  George- 
Frost,  Esq.,  appointed  as  Durgin  had  died. 

777,  Dea.  Nathaniel  Norton,  Mr.  Jonathan  Chesley,  Mr.  Nathaniel  Hill. 

778,  Mr.  Jonathan  Chesley,  Capt.  Timothy  Emerson,  Mr.  Elijah  Drew. 
[779>  Mr.  Jonathan  Chesley,  John  Smith,  3d,  Col.  Samuel  Chesley. 

0,  Col.  Samuel  Chesley,  John  Smith,  3d,  Mr.  Jonathan  Chesley. 

1,  Col.    Samuel   Chesley,    John   Smith,    3d,    Jonathan    Chesley,    Honble., 
George  Frost,  Esq.,  Mr.  Andrew  Drew. 

[782,  Lt.  John  Smith,  4th,  Capt.  John  Griffin,  Mr.  Stephen  Cogan. 
[783,  Capt.  John  Griffin,  Mr.  Stephen  Cogan,  Ebenezer  Smith. 
[784,  Capt.  John  Griffin,  Mr.  Stephen  Cogan,  Mr.  Ebenezer  Smith. 

785,  Mr.  Ebenezer  Smith,  Mr.  John  Clough,  Capt.  John  Griffin. 

786,  Capt.  John  Griffin,  Mr.  Ebenezer  Smith,  Mr.  John  Clough. 

7,  Capt.  John  Griffin.  Mr.  Ebenezer  Smith,  Mr.  John  Clough. 

8,  Col.  Samuel  Chesley,  John  Smith,  3d.,  Mr.  John  Blydenburgh. 
[789,  Ebenezer  Smith,  Esq.,  Mr.  John  Clough,  Col.  Timothy  Emerson. 
1790,  Ebenezer  Smith,  Esq.,  Mr.  John  Clough,  Mr.  James  Leighton. 
[791,  Ebenezer  Smith,  Esq.,  Mr.  John  Clough,  Capt.  Joseph  Young. 
[792,  John  Clough,  Robert  Lapish,  Jr.,  William  Ballard. 

793)  John  Clough,  William  Ballard,  Joseph  Richardson. 
794,  John  Clough,  William  Ballard,  Jonathan  Woodman,  Jr. 


[795 
[796 
797 
798 
[799 
[8oo 
[8oi 
[802 
[803 
[804 
[805 
[806 
[807 


[810 
[811 
[812 
[813 
[814 
[815 
[816 
[817 
!i8 
[819 
[820 
[821 
[822 
[823 
[824 
[825 
[826 
[827 
[828 
[829 
[830 
[831 
[832 
[833 
[834 
[835 
[836 

[837 
[838 

t839 
[840 
[841 
[842 


HISTORY    OF   DURHAM  367 

John  Clough,  William  Ballard,  Capt.  Jonathan  Woodman,  Jr. 

John  Clough,  Jonathan  Woodman,  Zebulon  Durgin. 

John  Clough,  Jonathan  Woodman,  Zebulon  Durgin. 

John  Clough,  Capt.  Jonathan  Woodman,  Joseph  Richardson. 

John  Clough,  Jonathan  Woodman,  Daniel  Smith. 

Jonathan  Steele,  Jonathan  Chesley,  Zebulon  Durgin. 

Capt.  Jeremiah  B.  Mooney,  John  Clough,  Capt.  Daniel  Smith. 

Valentine  Smith,  William  Jones,  Lt.  Robert  Mathes. 

Valentine  Smith,  William  Jones,  Robert  Mathes. 

Valentine  Smith,  Ebenezer  Doe,  Robert  Mathes. 

Valentine  Smith,  Ebenezer  Doe,  Daniel  Mathes. 

Ebenezer  Doe,  William  Cogan,  Jacob  Odel. 

Joseph  Jones  Torr,  Jonathan  Wroodman,  Andrew  Emerson. 

Valentine  Smith,  James  Joy,  Abraham  Perkins. 

Valentine  Smith,  James  Joy,  Joseph  Jones  Torr. 

Ebenezer  Doe,  Zebulon  Durgin,  Thomas  Jones. 

Daniel  Smith,  Joseph  Coe,  Samuel  Langley. 

Wrilliam  Demeritt,  Daniel  Smith,  Joseph  Coe. 

Valentine  Smith,  Joseph  Coe,  Jacob  Odell. 

Valentine  Smith,  Jacob  Odell,  William  Wiggin. 

Winthrop  Smith,  William  Wiggin,  Andrew  G.  Smith. 

Winthrop  Smith,  William  Wiggin,  Samuel  Yeaton. 

Daniel  Mathes,  Winthrop  Smith,  Ebenezer  Doe. 

Valentine  Smith,  Joseph  Coe,  George  Hull. 

Joseph  Coe,  George  Hull,  James  Chesley. 

Seth  S.  Walker,  Andrew  G.  Smith,  Joseph  Chesley,  3d. 

Andrew  G.  Smith,  Joseph  Chesley,  3d,  Daniel  Mathes. 

Andrew  G.  Smith,  William  Wiggin,  Joseph  W.  Page. 

Joseph  Coe,  William  W'iggin,  Joseph  W.  Page. 

Ebenezer  Thompson,  Andrew  G.  Smith,  James  Langley. 

Ebenezer  Thompson,  Andrew  G.  Smith,  James  Langley. 

Ebenezer  Thompson,  Andrew  G.  Smith,  James  Langley. 

Andrew  G.  Smith,  William  Wiggin,  John  Farnham. 

Andrew  G.  Smith,  John  Mooney,  George  Dame. 

Andrew  G.  Smith,  John  Mooney,  George  Dame. 

Andrew  G.  Smith,  William  Wiggin,  William  J.  Chesley. 

Valentine  Smith,  William  J.  Chesley,  Edward  Griffiths. 

Valentine  Smith,  Edward  Griffiths,  Benjamin  Kelly. 

Valentine  Smith,  William  Demeritt,  W7illiam  Jenkins. 

Valentine  Smith,  Willliam  Demeritt,  William  Jenkins. 

Samuel  Burnham,  James  Furnald,  Jonathan  Dockum. 

Samuel  Burnham,  Stephen  Demeritt,  Benjamin  Kelly. 

Stephen  Demeritt,  William  Jenkins,  Moses  H.  W'iggin. 

Samuel  Burnham,  Abraham  Mathes,  John  Yeaton. 

Samuel  Burnham,  William  Chesley,  Winthrop  Smith. 

Benjamin  Kelly,  Winthrop  Smith,  Washington  G.  Mathes. 

Winthrop  Smith,  Moses  H.  Wiggin,  Clark  D.  Thompson. 

Winthrop  Smith,  George  J.  Wiggin,  Joseph  Young,  2d. 


368  HISTORY   OF    DURHAM 

843,  Stephen  Demeritt,  George  J.  Wiggin,  Winthrop  Smith. 

844,  Stephen  Demeritt,  Joseph  Young,  2d,  John  Mathes. 

845,  Edward  Griffiths,  John  Mathes,  Joseph  Burnham,  Jr. 

846,  Oliver  C.  Demeritt,  John  S.  Shaw,  William  J.  Chesley. 

847,  George  J.  Wiggin,  Daniel  Smith,  Alfred  Smith. 

848,  Joseph  Young,  2d,  Greenleaf  Nute,  William  J.  Chesley. 

849,  Daniel  Smith,  Greenleaf  Nute,  Jacob  B.  Thompson. 

850,  Stephen  Demeritt,  Benjamin  Doe,  Jacob  B.  Thompson. 

851,  Daniel  Smith,  Benjamin  Doe,  Jacob  B.  Thompson. 

852,  .Daniel  Smith,  Jeremiah  Drew,  Stephen  Meader. 

853,  Joseph  Young,  2d,  Jeremiah  Drew,  Nathaniel  E.  Thompson. 

854,  Joseph  Young,  2d,  Nathaniel  E.  Thompson,  Greenleaf  Nute. 

855,  Ebenezer  Thompson,  James  Butler,  Smith  Emerson. 

856,  Greenleaf  Nute,  Thomas  J.  Haines,  Rufus  W.  Willey. 

857,  Greenleaf  Nute,  Thomas  J.  Haines,  Jacob  B.  Thompson. 

858,  Charles  F.  Woodman,  James  M.  Bunker,  John  Drew. 

859,  Charles  F.  Woodman,  Joseph  S.  Burnham,  John  Drew. 

860,  Joseph  S.  Burnham,  William  Wiggin,  John  Emerson. 

861,  William  Wiggin,  John  Emerson,  James  M.  Smart. 

862,  Joshua  B.  Smith,  John  E.  Thompson,  George  W.  Butler. 

863,  Joshua  B.  Smith,  Solomon  H.  Brock,  Cyrus  G.  Smith. 

864,  Joshua  B.  Smith,  Jacob  Mathes,  George  W.  Butler. 

865,  Joshua  B.  Smith,  Jacob  Mathes,  Warren  Smith. 

866,  Joshua  B.  Smith,  Warren  Smith,  Eben  Kent. 

867,  Joseph  S.  Burnham,  Eben  Kent,  Joseph  C.  Bartlett. 

868,  Joseph  S.  Burnham,  Joseph  C.  Bartlett,  John  H.  Mathes. 

869,  Joseph  S.  Burnham,  Joseph  C.  Bartlett,  Nathaniel  Stevens. 

870,  Joseph  S.  Burnham,  Ephraim  Jenkins,  Winthrop  S.  Meserve. 

871,  Ephraim  Jenkins,  Winthrop  S.  Meserve,  Hamilton  A.  Mathes. 

872,  Hamilton  A.  Mathes,  Joshua  B.  Smith,  Calvin  Sanders. 
873>  Joshua  B.  Smith,  Calvin  Sanders,  Daniel  T.  Woodman. 
874>  Joshua  B.  Smith,  John  S.  Chesley,  Moses  G.  Woodman. 
875>  Joshua  B.  Smith,  Daniel  T.  Woodman,  Jeremiah  Langley. 

876,  Joshua  B.  Smith,  Jeremiah  Langley,  Hilliard  F.  Fogg. 

877,  Joshua  B.  Smith,  Hilliard  F.  Fogg,  Albert  Young. 

878,  Joshua  B.  Smith,  Albert  Young,  William  B.  Langmaid. 

879,  John  McDaniel,  William  B.  Langmaid,  David  A.  Stevens. 

880,  John  McDaniel,  Joseph  C.  Bartlett,  Mark  H.  Mathes. 

881,  Joseph  C.  Bartlett,  Mark  H.  Mathes,  Joshua  B.  Smith. 

882,  Mark  H.  Mathes,  Joshua  B.  Smith,  Frank  E.  Giles. 

883,  Joshua  B.  Smith,  John  S.  Chesley,  Stephen  Rand. 

884,  Joshua  B.  Smith,  Stephen  Rand,  Charles  E.  Hoitt. 

885,  John  Dennison,  Charles  E.  Hoitt,  Frank  E.  Doe. 

886,  Charles  E.  Hoitt,  Frank  E.  Doe,  Samuel  Runlett,  Jr. 

887,  Frank  E.  Doe,  Samuel  Runlett,  Jr.,  Joseph  M.  R.  Adams. 

888,  Samuel  Runlett,  Jr.,  Eben  M.  Davis,  Daniel  Chesley. 

889,  Eben  M.  Davis,  "Daniel  Chesley,  Samuel  H.  Craig. 

890,  Daniel  Chesley,  Andrew  E.  Meserve,  Jabez  H.  Stevens. 


1891 
1892 

I893 
1894 
1895 
1896 

i897 
1898 
i899 
1900 
1901 
1902 
1903 
1904 

1905 
1906 
1907 
1908 
1909 
1910 
1911 
1912 
1913 


HISTORY  OF  DURHAM  369 

Jeremiah  Langley,  Edward  A.  Marston,  Charles  A.  Smart. 
Jeremiah  Langley,  Jabez  H.  Stevens,  Joshua  B.  Smith. 
Jabez  H.  Stevens,  Joshua  B.  Smith,  Arioch  W.  Griffiths. 
Jabez  H.  Stevens,  Joshua  B.  Smith,  Arioch  W.  Griffiths. 
Daniel  T.  Woodman,  Daniel  Chesley,  Frank  E.  Doe. 
Daniel  Chesley,  Frank  E.  Doe,  George  S.  Caverno. 
James  W.  Burnham,  George  H.  Whitcher,  Charles  E.  Hoitt. 
James  W.  Burnham,  Charles  E.  Hoitt,  Stephen  P.  Chesley. 
James  W.  Burnham,  Charles  E.  Hoitt,  Stephen  P.  Chesley. 
James  B.  Burnham,  Charles  E.  Hoitt,  Stephen  P.  Chesley. 
Charles  E.  Hoitt,  George  G.  Hoitt,  James  W.  Burnham. 
Charles  E.  Hoitt,  Frank  E.  Doe,  Patrick  J.  Connor. 
Frank  E.  Doe,  Charles  E.  Hoitt,  Ira  B.  Hill. 
Ira  B.  Hill,  Frank  E.  Doe,  Charles  E.  Hoitt. 
Frank  E.  Doe,  Charles  A.  Smart,  Patrick  J.  Connor. 
Charles  A.  Smart,  Patrick  J.  Connor,  David  H.  Fogg. 
Charles  A.  Smart,  Patrick  J.  Connor,  David  H.  Fogg. 
David  H.  Fogg,  Charles  A.  Smart,  Wilbert  S.  Chesley. 
David  H.  Fogg,  Wilbert  S.  Chesley,  Charles  E.  Hoitt. 
Wilbert  S.  Chesley,  Harry  R.  Hill,  Charles  E.  Hoitt. 
Charles  E.  Hoitt,  Harry  R.  Hill,  James  G.  Smart. 
Harry  R.  Hill,  James  G.  Smart,  Charles  E.  Hoitt. 
James  G.  Smart,  Charles  E.  Hoitt,  Fred  Philbrick. 


24 


HEADS   OF   FAMILIES    IN    DURHAM,    N.    H. 
First  Census  of  the  United  States,  1790 


Name  of  Head  of  Family 


Adams,  Samuel 

Appleby,  Joseph 

Appleby,  Thos 

Angier,  John 

Appleby,  Wm 

Boynton,  Joseph 

Burnham,  Edward 

Blydenburgh,  John 

Bunker,  Benjamin 

Ballard,  Joshua 

Ballard,  Wm 

Burnham.  Pike 

Bennett,  Abrahm 

Bennett,  John 

Burnham,  Jeremh 

Bickford,  Esther 

Burnham,  Robert 

Bunker,  Ephm 

Bickford,  Reuben 

Burnham,  John 

Burnham,  Saml 

Bickford,  Benja 

Bickford,  Winthrp 

Bennett,  Eleazr 

Brock,  Wm 

Butler,  James 

Burleigh,  Isaac 

Chesley,  Joseph 

Coe,  Curtis 

Critchet,  James 

37' 


J  ree  white  males  o 
years  and  upwa 
including   heads 
families 

a 

a 
3  2 

JJ 

+3  be ; 
<"—  1 

I 

I 

4 

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2 

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1 

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4 

2 

3 

6 

3 

2 

5 

1 

1 

1 

3 

4 

4 

3 

1 

2 

1 

3 

1 

1 

1 

4 

6 

2 

1 

4 

2 

3 

3 

1 

2 

1 

3 

3 

1 

1 

6 

2 

4 

1 

2 

1 

4 

3 

1 

3 

2 

3 

4 

1 

372 


HISTORY   OF   DURHAM 


Name  of  Head  of  Family 


Chesley,  Benja.  .  .  . 
Chesley,  Benja.,  Jr. 
Crocksford,  Daniel. 

Chesley,  Isaac 

Coldbath,  John.  .  .  . 
Chesley,  Mary.  .  .  . 
Cogan,  Stephen  .  . 
Chesley,  Col.  Saml. 
Chesley,  Sarah .  .  .  . 
Clough,  Ephm.,  Jr. 

Clough,  John 

Crummett,  Jacob.  . 

Crockett,  Jona 

Daniels,  Elipht. .  .  . 

Doe,  Wiggin 

Drew,  Saml 

Durgin,  Mary 

Drew,  Andrew.  .  .  . 
Durell,  Benmore.  .  . 

Davis,  Ephm 

Dame,  George 

Denbo,  Ichabod .  .  . 
Demeritt,  Israel .  .  . 

Dame,  Joseph 

Davis,  James 

Davis,  Daniel 

Demeritt,  Nathl.  .  . 
Durgin,  James.  .  .  . 

Davis,  Love 

Doe,  Benja 

Davis,  David 

Davis,  Thos 

Doe,    Ebenzr 

Dame,  John 

Durgin,  Joseph.  .  .  . 


Free  white  males  of  U 
years  and  upwards 
moluding   heads   o 

families 

s 

CS 

s 

c  c 

S    V 

jj 

2 

I 

2 

2 

5 

6 
6 

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4 

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4 

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i 

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4 

3 

2 

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6 

2 

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3 

3 

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2 

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2 

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4 

3 

2 

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2 

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7 

2 

2 

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2 

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2 

2 

I 

4 

I 

3 

4 
i 

4 

3 

4 

4 

i 

i 

I 

i 

i 

3 

7 

i 

i 

3 

HISTORY    OF   DURHAM  373 


Name  of  Head  of  Family 


Durgin,  Trueworthy . 
Durgin,  Zebulon .  .  .  . 

Davis,  Levi 

Dearbon,  James 

Durgin,  Wm ,.. 

Durgin.  Eliza 

Durgin,  Stephn 

Emerson,  Timothy.  . 

Edgerly,  Ebenzr 

Edgerly,  Samuel .... 

Edgerly,  John 

Edgerly,  Moses 

Edgerly,  Moses,  Jr. .  . 
Edgerly,  Saml.  Jr. .  .  . 
Emerson,  Edward  W. 
Emerson,  Joseph.  .  .  . 

Frost,  George 

Furnass,  Patrick.  .  .  . 

Folsom,  James 

Griffin,  Hannah 

Gillmore,  James.  .  .  . 

Grover,  John 

Grant,  Thos 

Hardy,  Theops 

Ham,  Thos 

Jackson,  Laskey.  .  .  . 

Jones,  Stephn 

Jenkins,  Nathl 

Joy,  Saml 

Jewett,  Noah 

Jewell,  Bradbury.  .  . 

Jackson,  Enoch 

Jones,  Robert 

Knight,  John 

Kent,  Richd 


Free  white  males  of  If 
years  and  upwards 
including    heads   0 
families 

c 

3 

s 

11 

CJ  CO 

0  0 

I J 

„c  c  — 

3 

I 

4 

1 

4 

2 

3 

3 

2 

2 

2 

I 

1 

2 

I 

4 

1 

4 

3 

4 

1 

3 

1 

2 

1 

1 

2 

3 

2 

2 

1 

2 

2 

1 

2 

2 

1 

2 

2 

5 

1 

3 

2 

1 

1 

1 

2 

3 

2 

1 

1 

2 

1 

3 

1 

2 

1 

1 

5 

3 

3 

6 

1 

2 

3 

3 

1 

5 

1 

1 

1 

2 

3 

4 

3 

2 

5 

1 

1 

3 

2 

3 

7 

1 

1 

4 

1 

3 

1 

3 

1 

374  HISTORY   OF   DURHAM 


Name  of  Head  of  Family 


Kent,  Lydia 

Leathers,  Abednego. 

Leathers,  Benja 

Leighton,  James.  .  .  . 
Langley,  Joseph .... 

Libby,  John 

Lapish,  Robert 

Leathers,  Saml 

Leighton,  Tobias.  .  .  . 
Lapish,  Robert,  Jr..  . 
Leathers,  Robert.  .  .  . 
Langley,  Valentine.  . 

Meserve,  Timo 

Meader,  Isaac 

Mathes,  Valentine.  .  . 

Mathes,  Benja 

Meserve,  Ebenzr. .  .  . 

Munroe,  John 

Neal,  Joshua 

Nutter,  Christopher.. 

Nutter,  Lemuel 

Pinkham,  Thos 

Pindexter,  Thos 

Pendergast,  Dennis.  . 
Pendergast,  Edmund 
Pendergast,  John .  .  . 

Pitman,  George 

Pindar,  Thos 

Perkins,  Wm 

Pindar,  Wm 

Pindar,  Jeremh 

Pinkham,  Abijah .  .  .  . 

Ryan,  Michael 

Richards,  Bartho. .  .  . 
Richardson,  Joseph.  . 


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HISTORY   OF   DURHAM 


375 


Name  of  Head  of  Family 


Spinney,  Wm 

Sullivan,  Jno 

Smith,  Benja 

Smith,  John  3d 

Smith,  Robert 

Smith,  Jno 

Smith,  John,  Jr 

Smith,  Ebenzr 

Stephen,  Cornelius.  .  . 

Stephens,  Benja 

Stevens,  John 

Stevenson,  John 

Steel,  Jona 

Starboard,  John 

Spencer,  Abednego.  .  . 

Spencer,  John 

Spencer,  Levi 

Smith,  Joseph 

Thomas,  James 

Thomas,  Joseph 

Thomas,  Joseph,  Jr..  . 
Thompson,  Ebenz. .  .  . 
Thompson,  Ebenz.,  Jr. 

Thompson,  Jona 

Thompson,  John 

Thompson,  Edmund.  . 

Thompson,  Thos 

Tucker,  Henry 

Taylor,  Thomas 

Thompson,  Benja 

Tripp,  Benja 

Thompson,  Samuel .  .  . 
Woodman,  Jona.,  Jr. .  . 

Woodman,  Jona 

Williams,  Jona 


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4 

2 

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8 

3 

2 

2 

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1 

1 

2 

5 

3 

4 

4 

5 

2  - 

2 

376 


HISTORY    OF   DURHAM 


Name  of  Head  of  Family 


Welch,  John 

Wiggin,  Issachar.  .  . 
Wormwood,  Joseph 

Willey,  Benja 

Willey,  Jeremh. .  .  . 

Willey,  James 

Willey,  Robert.  .  .  . 
Willey,  Theodore .  . 
Willey,  Jeremh.,  Jr. 
Woodman,  Jacob .  . 
Woodman,  Lemuel . 
Willey,  Valentine .  . 
Young,  Joseph .... 

Yeaton,  Saml 

Watson,  Henry.  .  .  . 
Jackson,  James.  .  .  . 
Dealing,  Abigail.  .  . 

Davis,  Micah 

Leathers,  Ezekl..  .  . 

Willey,  Thos 

Bunker,  Zachr 

Cromwell,  Saml..  .  . 
Cromwell,  Saml.  Jr. 

Bickford,  Jona 

Bickford,  Eliakim.  . 

Smart,  John 

Smart,  Bartho 

Beck,  Abigail 

Rollings,  Sarah .... 
Coldbath,  Sarah .  .  . 
Durgin,  Henry.  .  .  . 

Durgin,  Philip 

Sharp,  Abigail 

Gerrish,  Peggy.  .  .  . 
Dearbon,  Mary.  .  .  . 


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HISTORY    OF    DURHAM  377 

-a  73                 .3                        c 

Name  of  Head  of  Family  ^  m  e  m         "-                J 

Willey,  Mary 3 

Smith,  John,  4: I  1            1 

Noble,  Stephn 2  2           3 

Drisco,  Sarah 1 

Bean,  Ebenez 1  1            2 

Flint,  Polly 1  3 

Marston,  Levi 3  3           3 

Simson,  Wm 1  2           4 

Banter,  John 1  3           3 

Folsom,  Joseph 1  1            2 

Langley,  Jno 1  1 

Eastman,  Wm 1  1            1 

Webster,  Reuben 1 

Chace,  Oliver 1 

Drew,  Joseph 1  1 

Smith,  Jonatha 1  2 

Dutch,  Jno 1 

Nutter,  Matthias 1  1            2 

Crocket,  Jno 1  1 

Hunskum,  Lucy 2 

Swain,  Razar 1  2 

Durant,  John 1  2            1 

Parsons,  Jona 1  1 

Cromwell,  Mary 1  3 

Evans,  Stephen .  I  5 

Copied  by  Lucien  Thompson,  Durham  N.  H.,  May  14,  1908. 


MARRIAGES  NOT  ELSEWHERE  MENTIONED  IN  THIS 

HISTORY* 

By  the  Rev.  Hugh  Adams 

March  25,  1719,  William  Miles  and  Hannah  Heth. 

May  18,  1727,  Nathan  Taylor  and  Mary  Barber. 

Nov.  23,  1727,  Joseph  Whitten  and  Elizabeth  Gray. 

Jan.  16,  1727,  James  Lindsey  and  Ann  Gypson. 

May  2,  1728,  Joseph  Hill  of  Kittery  and  Abigail  Libbey. 

Dec.  19,  1728,  Pomfret  Whitehouse  and  Jerusha  Shepherd. 

Jan.  12  \~j2%lc),  Samuel  Drown  and  Martha  Tibbets. 

April  10,  1729,  John  Borman  of  Falmouth  and  widow  Elizabeth 

Fisk  of  Newmarket. 
May  29,  1729,  Ichabod  Tibbets,  widower,  and  Patience  Nock. 

By  The  Rev.  John  Adams 

Feb.  1,  1749/50  James  Morrison  and  Mary  Kelsey,  both  of 
Barrington. 

Feb.  26,  1750/51,  Thomas  Young  of  Newmarket  and  Mary 
Huntress  of  Newington. 

May  22,  1 75 1,  Amos  Howard  and  Sarah  Damm,  both  of  Somers- 
worth . 

Nov.  14,  1 75 1,  John  Moe  and  Elizabeth  McCutchin,  both  of 
Barrington. 

Oct.  11,  1752,  Lazarus  Rowe  and  Mary  Webber,  both  of  Green- 
land. 

Nov.  16,  1752,  John  Johnson  and  Mary  Kenniston,  of  New- 
market. 

July  24,  1754,  Thomas  Evans  and  Hannah  Buzzell,  both  of 
Dover. 

Nov.  1,  1754,  James  Nelson  and  Hannah  Kenniston,  both  of 
Newmarket. 

Aug.  1,  1754,  Samuel  Chapman  and  Mary  Barber,  both  of  New- 
market. 

Dec.  3,  1754,  Hugh  Little  and  Hulda  Rines,  both  of  Durham. 

Dec.  26,  1754,  John  Sanborn  of  Newmarket  and  Mary  Glidden 
of  Durham. 

*  In  the  following  records  the  original  spelling   has    been  retained. 
379 


380  HISTORY    OF   DURHAM 

Feb.  7,  1755,  Samuel  Wallis  and  Sedeny  Tilley,  both  of  Barring- 
ton. 
March  9,  1755,  Joseph  Applebee  and  Eleanor  Kenniston,  both  of 

Durham. 
July  4,  1755,  Jonathan  Fiske  and  Sarah  Welch,  both  of  Durham. 
Dec.  11,  1755,  John  Hartford  and  Bethiah  Rollins,  both  of  New- 
market. 
May   18,   1756,   Benjamin  Hall  and  Patience  Tibbetts,  both  of 

Durham.  .     . 

Dec.  31,   1756,  Christopher  Gould  and  Elizabeth  Waters,  both 

of  Durham. 
July  19,  1757,  Joseph  Simpson  of  Greenland  and  Anne  Simpson 

of  Durham. 
Sept.    19,    1757,   Benjamin   Evans  and   Hannah   Chiles,  both  of 

Durham. 
Nov.   17,   1757,  Zebulon  Glidden  of  Durham  and  Temperance 

Whidden  of  Newmarket. 
Dec.  15,  1757,  Joseph  Palmer  of  Hampton  and  Lydia  Glidden  of 

Durham. 
Sept.  21,  1758,  Ebenezer  Townsend  and  Mary  Glidden,  both  of 

Durham. 
May   8,    1760,    Nathaniel   White   and   Grace   Roberts,    both   of 

Durham. 
Jan.    18,    1 761,    Benjamin   Glazier   and    Mary   Brown,    both   of 

Durham. 
Feb.  28,  1761,  Elisha  Tool  [Towle]  and  Anne  Sanborn,  both  of 

Durham. 
Sept.  6,  1 761,  Richard  Bowers  and  Mary  Barnet,  both  of  Durham. 
Dec.  30,  1762,  William  Foss,  3rd,  and  Elizabeth  Clay,  both  of 

Durham. 

By  The  Rev.  Curtis  Coe 

Jan  2,  1 781,  Levi  Robinson  of  Nottingham  and  Rachel  Rines. 

Aug.  2,  1 78 1,  Samuel  Field  and  Miss  Anna  Nock. 

March  13,  1783,  Samuel  Bickford  and  Miss  Deborah  Elwell. 

June  7,  1783,  Benjamin  Tripp  and  Mrs.  Hannah  Gage. 

Nov.    14,    1784,   George   Bunker  of   Barnstead  and   Miss  Alice 

Smith. 
Dec.  28,  1784,  John  Smart  and  Miss  Molly  Adams. 
March  26,  1785,  Levi  Davis  and  Olive  Noble. 


HISTORY    OF    DURHAM  38 1 

May  16,  1785,  Donald  McDonald  and  Miss  Rhoda  Grover. 
July  24,  1785,  Moses  Drew  and  Miss  Hannah  Willey. 
Sept.  18,  1785,  Jeremiah  Willey,  Jr.,  and  Miss  Sally  Johnson. 
March  20,  1786,  Solomon  Davis  and  Miss  Temperance  Colbath. 
Dec.    18,    1786,    John    Knowlton    of    Boscawen    and    Elizabeth 

Langley. 
Feb.  21,  1787,  Ebenezer  Bean  and  Anne  Whitham. 
April  8,  1787,  William  Applebee  and  Mrs.  Sally  Langley. 
June  24,  1787,  Jonathan  Drew  of  Windham  and  Miss  Eleanor 

Hicks. 
June  21,   1788,   Matthias  Nutter,  Jr.,  of  Newington  and   Miss 

Betsey  Colbath. 
Dec.  31,  1789,  Valentine  Willey  and  Miss  Hannah  Hearne. 
Jan.   7,    1782,   Joseph   Kent  of  Gilmanton  and   Miss   Margaret 

Jordan. 
Oct.  1,  1789,  William  Nute  of  Dover  and  Miss  Polly  Davis  of 

Madbury. 
July  12,  1791,  Reuben  Cook  and  Miss  Elizabeth  Bickford. 
Oct.  2,  1791,  Oliver  Chase  and  Miss  Polly  Chase. 
Nov.  24,  1 79 1,  Samuel  Willey  and  Miss  Jennie  Follet. 
Dec.  9,.  1 791,  Stephen  Brock  of  Durham  and  Miss  Abigail  Bunker 

of  Madbury. 
Jan.  18,  1792,  Nicholas  Robinson  of  Epping  and  Miss  Mary  Wil- 
ley of  Hampton. 
Sept.  18,  1792,  John  Clark  of  Rochester  and  Miss  Betsey  Langley. 
Nov.  7,  1793,  William  Campbell  and  Miss  Elizabeth  Bunker. 
March  16,  1794,  John  Bickford  and  Miss  Sally  Bracey. 
April  6,  1794,  Thomas  Bennett  of  Newmarket  and  Miss  Patience 

Ham. 
Nov.  2,  1794,  Rufus  Wiggin  of  Stratham  and  Miss  Sally  Edgerley. 
May  10,  1795,  Benjamin  French  Brown  and  Miss  Sally  Bickford. 
Aug.  16,  1795,  Samuel  York  and  Miss  Miriam  Frye,  both  of  Lee. 
Dec.  31,  1795,  Anthony  Vincent  of  Newington  and  Miss  Betsey 

Rogers. 
Feb.  21,  1796,  William  Shepard  of  New    Holderness   and    Miss 

Hannah  Hill  of  Madbury. 
Jan.  8,  1797,  James  Carter  of  Tamworth  and  Miss  Nancy  Edgerley. 
Feb.  11,  1798,  Joseph  French  of  Epping  and  Miss  Hannah  Ham. 
March  I,  1798,  Daniel  Hanson  and  Miss  Sally  Smith. 


382  HISTORY    OF   DURHAM 

May  8,   1798,  Jonathan  Elliott  of  Epping  and   Mrs.    Elizabeth 

Glidden  of  Lee. 
Dec.  30  1799,  Joseph  Pitman  of  Ossipee  and  Mrs.  Ruth  Colbath. 
Jan.  1,  1801,  Hugh  Cox  of  Lee  and  Miss  Sally  Davis. 
March  29,   1801,   William  Simpson  of  Boston  and  Miss  Betty 

Hanson. 
April  26,  1801,  James  Fogg  and  Miss  Deborah  Woodlock. 
April   26,    1 80 1,   Joseph    Ballard   of   Rochester   and   Miss  Sally 

Perley. 
July  2,   1801,  Joseph  Hodgdon  of  Rochester  and  Miss  Abigail 

Pitman. 
Jan.    13,    1803,   Josiah   Folsom   of   Portsmouth   and    Miss  Sally 

Hull.   * 
Sept.  1,  1803,  John  Smith  of  Barrington  and  Miss  Sarah  Clark 

of  Madbury. 
Dec.    8,    1803,    Thomas   Willey   of    Madbury   and    Miss    Mary 

Meader. 
Oct.  14,  1804,  John  Smith  and  Miss  Abigail  Crocket. 
Sept.  19,  1805,  Samuel  Marsh  and  Miss  Hannah  Johnson. 

By  The  Rev.  Federal  Burt. 

Nov.  19,  181 7,  Ebenezer  Hanson  of  Dover  and  Abigail  Paul  of 

Somersworth. 
Jan.  18,  1818,  Stephen  Starbird  and  Miss  Tamson  Nute. 
Jan.  15,  1818,  John  P.  Neal  and  Miss  Sally  Clements,  both  of 

Dover. 
March    15,   181 8,   Thomas   Kief  of  Stratham  and   Miss  Abigail 

Cole  of  Madbury. 
June  15,  1818,  Daniel  Fowler,  Jr.,  and  Miss  Nancy  Buzzell. 
June  21,  1818,  Charles  Woodman,  Esq.,  and  Miss  Mary  W.  Gage, 

both  of  Dover,     g  .,.    3     ,./„, 
^  Dec.  17,  1 81 8,  Samuel  Hayes  and  Miss  Lydia  Young. 
Jan.  11,  1819,  Asa  Seaver  of  Rochester  and  Miss  Abigail  Turner 

of  Dover. 
April  5,   1819,  William  J.  Tomson  of  South  Berwick  and  Miss 

Abigail  M.  Wentworth  of  Somersworth. 
April  14,  1819,  Robert  Martin  of  Newcastle  and  Miss  Sarah  Ann 

Tuttle  of  Dover. 
Jan.  13  1820,  John  Leathers  and  Miss  Nancy  Morse. 


HISTORY    OF   DURHAM  383 

April  5,   1820,  John  H.  Prescott  of  Gilmanton  and  Miss  Sally 

C.  Meserve  of  North  wood. 
Aug.  19,  1 82 1,  Stephen  Davis  and  Miss  Clarissa  Trickey. 
Sept.  13,  1821,  John  Smart  and  Miss  Prudence  I.  Tuttle. 
Sept.  16,  1821,  Samuel  Cate  of  Alton  and  Miss  Catherine  Jenkins 

of  Madbury. 
June  30,  1822,  Enoch  Chase  of  Boston  and  Miss  Maria  Lord  of 

Somersworth. 
July  9,  1822,  Jeremiah  Buzzell  and  Miss  Ann  Winkley,  both  of 

Barrington. 
June   10,   1823,  Ebenezer  Ford  of  Nottingham  and  Miss  Eliza 

Sherburn  of  Northwood. 
Nov.  30  1823,  Joseph  W.  Page  and  Miss  Mary  Ann  Gilman  of 

Dover. 
Dec.  10,  1823,  Stephen  Quint  and  Miss  Nancy  Clay. 
Aug.  15,  1824,  Richard  Downing  of  Newington  and  Miss  Ann 

Twombly. 
Sept.  9,   1824,   Benjamin   Ford  and  Miss  Sarah  York,  both  of 

Dover. 
Sept.  12,  1824,  George  W.  Prince  and  Miss  Martha  Ham,  both 

of  Dover. 
Nov.  28,  1824,  John  Wentworth,  2d,  of  Somersworth  and  Miss 

Statira  Godwin  of  Berwick. 
Nov.  28,  1824,  John  L.  Thorndike  and  Miss  Maria  Joy,  both  of 

Pittsfield. 
Jan.  5,   1825,  Daniel  Cram  and  Miss  Edna  Ela,  both  of  New- 
market. 
May  8,  1825,  Joseph  Hanson,  Jr.,  and  Miss  Hannah  March,  both 

of  Rochester. 
May  19,   1825,  Alonzo  Roberts  and  Miss  Mary  Torr,  both  of 

Dover. 
May  19,  1825,  Andrew  Varney  and  Miss  Susan  Footman,  both 

of  Dover. 
Oct.  23,  1825,  Benjamin  Gerrish  of  Milton  and  Miss  Margaret 

H.  Howard  of  Dover. 
Nov.  20,  1825,  Jeremiah  O.  Legg  and  Miss  Jane  Clarke,  both  of 

Dover. 
Feb.  9,  1826,  David  Manson  and  Miss  Jane  F.  Grover,  both  of 

Dover. 
July  6,  1826,  Josiah  Sanborn  and  Miss  Harriet  Bean. 


384  HISTORY    OF   DURHAM 

Dec.  25,  1826,  Micajah  Leathers  and  Miss  Hannah  Whipple, 
both  of  Dover. 

Oct.  14,  1827,  Nathaniel  Clarke  of  Somersworth  and  Miss  Char- 
lotte Ham  of  Dover. 

By  The  Rev.  William  Demeritt. 

Oct.  16,  1816,  George  Hooper  and  Hannah  York. 

June  16,  1 8 18,  Thomas  Limber  and  Phebe  Chesley. 

June  22,  1817,  Joseph  Patten  and  Olive  Edes. 

Dec.  2,  1817,  Jonathan  Glover  and  Betsy  Langmade. 

Dec.  14,  1817,  John  Tibbetts  and  Mary  Hanson. 

April  26,  1818,  Andrew  B.  Shute  and  Patience  Grover. 

April  30,  1818,  Job  Clay  and  Eleanor  Daniels. 

Jan.  14,  1819,  Daniel  Young  and  Eleanor  Smith. 

Aug.  8,  1818,  John  Ham  and  Joan  McNeal. 

Sept.  9,  1819,  Paul  Henderson  and  Ann  Drew. 

Dec.  1,  1819,  Samuel  Lamos  and  Susan  Langmade. 

Jan.  8,  1820,  Richard  James  Harvey  and  Abigail  Hall. 

May  25,  1820,  Benjamin  Waterhouse  and  Rebecca  Manson. 

June  10,  1820,  Samuel  Quint  and  Abigail  Glover. 

July  23,  1820,  John  Ham  and  Lydia  Ham. 

Aug.  20,  1820,  David  Bickford  and  Elizabeth  Jenness. 

Aug.  20,  1820,  Ephraim  L.  Bickford  and  Sally  Davis. 

Jan.  7,  1821,  James  McDuffee  and  Hannah  Ham. 

April  22,  1821,  Samuel  Drew  and  Sally  Tuttle. 

June  24,  1 82 1,  John  Twombly  and  Mary  Ham. 

July  4,  1 821,  Miles  Davis  and  Betsey  Rendell. 

July  29,  1 821,  Joseph  Young  and  Mary  Tibbetts. 

Oct.  22,  1 82 1,  Stephen  Jenness  and  Anna  Seavy. 

Nov.  28,  1 82 1,  Samuel  Hall  and  Mary  Grover. 

Nov.  29,  1 82 1,  Warren  Langley  and  Mary  Peirce. 

Jan.  24,  1822,  Jacob  Hayes  and  Margaret  Hayes. 

March  17,  1822,  Ebenezer  Buzzell  and  Hannah  Caldwell. 

April  4,  1822,  Curtis  Clay  and  Lattice  Colbath. 

Aug.  8,  1822,  John  Sherborn  and  Sally  Gear. 

Nov.  1822,  James  Thompson  and  Elizabeth  Clarenbrook. 

Feb.  2,  1823,  Samuel  Hanson  and  Sarah  H.  Snell. 

March  27,  1823,  Joseph  Knight  and  Tamsen  Carswell. 

,  1823,  Jonathan  Ham.  Jr.,  and  Sally  Wiggins. 

March  30,  1823,  Moses  Nute  and  Clarissa  Pinkham. 


HISTORY   OF   DURHAM  385 

May  11,  1823,  James  Bickford  and  Ann  Arlin. 

May  18,  1823,  John  Sant  and  Comfort  Willey. 

May  25,  1823,  George  P.  Savory  and  Lydia  Ham. 

Nov.  13,  1823,  Elezer  Young  and  Keziah  Rowe. 

Jan.  11,  1824,  Solomon  Jenness  and  Phebe  Taylor. 

Feb.  5,  1824,  Moses  Hodgdon  and  Eliza  Daniels. 

May  3,  1824,  Jacob  Hall  and  Abigail  Daniels. 

Sept.  — ,  1824,  Timothy  Brewster  and  Eliza  Young. 

Nov.  — ,  1824,  Thomas  Jackson  and  Ann  Turner. 

March  — ,  1825,  Bartholom  Berrey  and  Nancy  P.  Whitehouse. 

May  — ,  1825,  Nathaniel  Brock  and  Nancy  Drew. 

,  1825,  Thomas  Verner  and  Sophia  Canald. 

Nov.  — ,  1825,  Rufus  Wilkinson  and  Catherine  Bunker. 
Nov.  — ,  1825,  John  S.  Whitehouse  and  Abigail  Bickford. 
Dec.  — ,  1825,  William  Palmer  and  Penniel  Hall. 

■ ,  1825,  John  Flanders  and  Mary  McNeal. 

,  1826,  Timothy  Hanson  and  Abigail  Chesley. 

Jan.  — ,  1826,  Levi  Cram  and  Lovey  Bunker. 

Feb.  — ,  1826,  Ransom  Haines  and  Mary  Chesley. 

March  5,  1826,  Francis  P.  Channell  and  Olive  H.  Chapman. 

Aug.  24,  1826,  William  Hooper  and  Sarah  Demeritt. 

Oct.  8,  1826,  Hiram  Cockran  and  Mary  Emerson. 

Nov.  23,  1826,  James  Hanson  and  Mary  Gear. 

Dec.  23,  1826,  Joel  Mirison  and  Emely  Underwood. 

Jan.  23,  1827,  Nathaniel  Church  and  Patience  Hanson. 

Jan.  29,  1827,  Joseph  Putney  and  Sarah  Whitmore. 

Dec.  9,  1827,  Robert  Stacey  and  Lydia  Ann  Wiggins. 

Dec.  23,  1827,  Joseph  Gear  and  Margaret  Gear. 

April  4,  1827,  John  Tibbitts  and  Ann  Buzzell. 

April  9,  1827,  Samuel  Langmade  and  Elizabeth  Woodman. 

June  14,  1827,  Oliver  Chadbourne  and  Mary  Torr. 

Sept.  4,  1827,  Ebenezer  Boynton  and  Mary  Ann  Pinkham. 

Oct.  14,  1827,  John  Hayes  and  Mary  Bunker. 

Nov.  4,  1827,  David  Robinson  and  Martha  Ham. 

March  30,  1828,  Ezekiel  Cutler  and  Eliza  N.  Nudd. 

May  4,  1828,  Nathaniel  Garland  and  Harriet  Pickering. 

June  5,  1828,  John  Cram  and  Phebe  C.  Ricker. 

June  22,  1828,  John  Frost  and  Mary  Ann  Savory. 

July  8,  1828,  Benjamin  Prescott  and  Charlotta  Jackson. 

Aug.  8,  1828,  Oliver  Tuttle  and  Sarah  Ham. 

25 


386  HISTORY    OF    DURHAM 

Aug.  31,  1828,  Samuel  Libbey  and  Malenda  Hussey. 

Sept.  4,  1828,  Richard  Stevenson  and  Sally  Wintworth. 

Nov.  13,  1828,  Oliver  Varney  and  Abigail  Ham. 

April  12,  1829,  Joseph  Downing  and  Elizabeth  Holland. 

April  23,  1829,  Daniel  Ham,  Jr.,  and  Sarah  Bickford. 

June  4,  1829,  William  Weeks,  Jr.,  and  Sarah  Richardson. 

Oct.  8,  1829,  James  L.  Clark  and  Martha  Jackson. 

Jan.  27,  1830,  Stephen  H.  Nute  and  Nancy  Allen. 

April  18,  1830,  Miles  Tuttle  and  Lucinda  H.  Davis. 

Oct.  7,  1830,  George  York  and  Mary  Haddock. 

Nov.  18,  1830,  Michael  B.  Tuttle  and  Mary  Hull. 

Nov.  24,  1830,  Asa  Clay  and  Polly  Lamos. 

Dec.  16,  1830,  Dan  Woodman  and  Lucy  Campbel. 

Feb.  24,  1831,  Johnson  Loveren  and  Caroline  Glover. 

April  7,  1831,  George  Smith  and  Mary  P.  McDaniels. 

May  12,  1 83 1,  John  Knight  and  Hannah  Drew. 

June  29,  1 831,  George  W.  Caverno  and  Hannah  Ricker. 

July  12,  1 83 1,  Samuel  Sherborn  and  Elizabeth  Swain. 

July  26,  1831,  Abraham  B.  Snell  and  Olive  Gear. 

Aug.  18,  1831,  Alexander  Tuttle  and  Lucinda  A.  Bennett. 

Oct.  18,  1831,  Paul  Snell  and  Lydia  Tibbetts. 

Nov.  27.  1 83 1,  Edward  V.  Perkins  and  Sophia  WTatson. 

Dec.  25,  1831,  Charles  H.  Parkes  and  Lucy  Ann  Scriggins. 

Feb.  6,  1832,  Nathaniel  Snell  and  Avis  Williams. 

Feb.  19,  1832,  George  W.  Thompson  and  Harriet  P.  Shepperd. 

March  5,  1831,  Solomon  Jenness  and  Elizabeth  Alen. 

March  25,  1832,  Archalus  Martin  and  Hannah  G.  Campbell. 

April  15,  1832,  Minot  Langmade  and  Loisa  Willame. 

Sept.  30,  1832,  Calvin  Pickering  and  Mary  Bunker. 

Oct.  3,  1832,  Hail  P.  Daney  and  Permela  C.  Furnold. 

Nov.  15,  1832,  Stephen  P.  Smith  and  Mary  P.  Clark. 

June  3,  1833,  Thompson  Jackson  and  Mary  Ann  Page. 

June  16,  1833,  Amos  H.  Gerry  and  Lucy  Ann  Keniston. 

March  30,  1833,  William  H.  Trip  and  Mary  Boin. 

April  — ,  1833,  Wingate  Twombly  and  Loisa  Curtis. 

May  2,  1833,  Daniel  Tuxbury  and  Sarah  Ann  Sherburne. 

June  23,  1833,  Samuel  B.  Gerrish  and  Milenda  C.  Eliot. 

Aug.  29,  1833,  Horatio  Fogg  and  Mary  L.  Durgin. 

April  26,  1834,  Mathew  Hodgdon  and  Susan  Snell. 

April  4,  1835.  Richard  Pjnkham  and  Martha  Clay. 


HISTORY    OF   DURHAM  387 

June  2,  1835,  Shurburne  Smith  and  Abigail  P.  Runlett. 

Aug.  5,  1835,  Thomas  Glover  and  Alice  Barker. 

Sept.  20,  1835,  Jonathan  Young  and  Sophia  M.  Ricker. 

Oct.  25,  1835,  Joseph  H.  Joy  and  Jane  Straw. 

Nov.  25,  1835,  Nathaniel  Adams  and  Presella  Foss. 

Nov.  25,  1835,  Tobias  Bunker  and  Sally  B.  Buzzell. 

May  18,  1836,  John  Shurborn  and  Nancy  Shackford. 

June  18,  1836,  Nathaniel  Tuttle  and  Martha  Ann  Ham. 

Nov.  29,  1836,  William  H.  Clark  and  Mary  E.  Hoite. 

Jan.  22,  1837,  Oliver  Tuttle  and  Francis  Gray. 

Aug.  10,  1837,  John  B.  Furber  and  Louisa  T.  Bachelder. 

Oct.  19,  1837,  Charles  Young  and  Permela  P.  Snow. 

Nov.  12,  1837,  Edward  Doer  and  Sophia  Hanson. 

Dec.  17,  1837,  Nathaniel  Stevenson  and  Olive  Wintworth. 

June  24,  1838,  Pike  H.  Harvey  and  Mary  Ann  Chapman. 

Nov.  4,  1838,  Nicholas  Pinkham  and  Olive  Murphey. 

Nov.  14,  1838,  Joseph  Jenkins  and  Mehitable  Bunker. 

Nov.  7,  1838,  John  Williams  and  Sally  G.  Doe. 

Dec.  2,  1838,  Phinehas  Wintworth  and  Abigail  Willey. 

April  23,  1840,  Henry  Davis  and  Ann  M.  Housmer. 

Miscellaneous  Marriages 

Aug.  — ,  1807,  George  Smith  and  Miss  Betsey  Garland. 

July  12,  1808,  Benjamin  Trickey  and  Miss  Betsey  Appleby. 

July  3,  1810,  Dr.  Jonathan  Greeley  of  Dover  and  Miss  Susanna 
Richardson. 

May  30,  181 1,  James  Huntress  of  Bartlett  and  Miss  Salle  Wille. 

Sept.  19,  1814,  William  French  and  Rebecca  Ricker. 

Oct.  15,  1828,  Joseph  Hartwell  of  Canton,  Mass.,  and  Miss 
Betsey  Riley  of  Dover. 

June  9,  1829,  Daniel  Martin,  Esq.,  of  Wolfeborough  and  Sophia 
W.  Fernald. 

Jan.  3,  1830,  George  Knight  and  Elizabeth  Twombly. 

Jan.  11,  1833,  Oliver  Colman  and  Mehitable  Clark. 

April  6,  1834,  James  Woodes  and  Miss  Meribah  Jones. 

April  17,  1834,  Plato  Waldron  and  Elizabeth  Kelly,  both  of 
Dover. 

July  10,  1834,  John  Clay  and  Miss  Lydia  Daniels. 

Sept.  14,  1834,  Jacob  Barney  of  Lowell,  Mass.,  and  Miss  Eliza- 
beth  Pickering. 


388  HISTORY   OF   DURHAM 

Sept.  6,  1836,  Joseph  Garland,  Jr.,  of  Rye  and  Miss  Elizabeth 

Garland  of  Nottingham. 
Dec.  21,   1836,  John   D.  Goodwin  and  Miss   Susan    B.    Chase' 

both  of  Newmarket. 
Aug.  21,  1836,  William  H.  Gage  of  Lowell,  Mass.,  and  Miss  Harriet 

C.  Libbey. 
Oct.  11,  1836,  William  French,  Jr.,  and  Miss  Sarah  A.  Cate. 
Nov.  30,  1836,  Isaac  M.  Nute  of  Dover  and  Miss  Mary  Ann 

Jenkins  of  Madbury.- 
Dec.   14,   1836,  Joshua  Blunt  and  Miss  Jane  Chesley,  both  of 

Haverhill,  Mass. 
June  6,  1837,  David  Frost  and  Sarah  Ann  Nutter,  both  of  New- 
market. 
Oct.  10,  1837,  William  Perkins  of  New  Durham  and  Mrs.  Deb- 
orah Spinney. 
Nov.  20,  1837,  Micajah  Sinclair  and  Miss  Abigail  Willard,  both 

of  Stratham. 
Nov.  27,  1837,  George  W.  Furber  and  Miss  Sarah  Hill,  both  of 

Newmarket. 
April  5,  1838,  William  H.  Hayden  and  Miss  Mary  Jane  Bowles, 

both  of  Newmarket. 
Nov.  29,   1838,  William  Taylor  of  Northwood  and  Miss  Eliza 

Jackson. 
Jan.  23,  1839,  Reuben  Higgins  of  Portland,  Me.,  and  Miss  Calista 

L.  Smith. 
July  9,  1839,  Richard  Furber  of  Meredith  and  Miss  Ednah  Cram 

of  Newmarket. 
Oct.  29,   1839,  Jacob  Tilton  of  Epping  and  Miss  Elizabeth  B. 

Lock  of  Lee. 
Feb.  16,  1840,  Benjamin  F.  Neally  and  Miss  Susan  E.  Bartlett 

of  Lee. 
Oct.  20,  1839,  Enoch  S.  Davis  and  Palnia  Staples,  both  of  Ports- 
mouth. 
Jan.  29,  1839,  Wear  Davis  of  Lee  and  Miss  Sarah  Dockum. 
Nov.   19,   1840,  William  Marshall  and  Miss  Abigail  Sawyer  of 

Newmarket. 
April  5,   1840,  Ebenezer  C.  Garland  and  Miss  Maria  Edgerly 

both  of  Somersworth. 
Sept.  30,  1840,  William  H.  Robinson  of  Exeter  and  Miss  Mary  G. 

Colman. 


HISTORY   OF   DURHAM  389 

March  7,  1840,  William  Tego  and  Miss  Nancy  Smith. 

Nov.  7,  1 841,  Leonard  Smith  and  Sally  Doe  of  Newmarket. 

Jan.  4,  1842,  Ira  Wright  and  Harriet  Small. 

Jan.  19,  1842,  Albert  G.  Doyle  of  Dover  and  Miss  Eliza  Ingalls. 

May  5,  1842,  Joseph  Kelley  of  Woburn,  Mass.,  and  Miss  Mary 
Shaw  of  Exeter. 

Aug.  28,  1842,  Cyrus  G.  Hull  and  Miss  Harriet  Willey. 

Dec.  20,  1843,  Chesley  D.  Hazelton  and  Miss  Lydia  B.  Channel. 

May  8,  1843,  Edward  Sherman  of  Lowell  and  Miss  Mary  S. 
Parsons. 

May  28,  1843,  Levi  Wilson  of  Rochester  and  Miss  Mary  S.  Picker- 
ing. 

July  10,  1845,  Joseph  Ham  and  Miss  Elizabeth  Berry  of  Barring- 
ton. 

Jan.  8,  1846,  Charles  R.  Meserve  and  Miss  Sophronia  R.  Tucker, 
both  of  Dover. 

May  18,  1845,  Edmund  E.  Leighton  and  Miss  Hannah  D.  Chesley, 
both  of  Newmarket. 

Sept.  20,  1846,  John  H.  Odiorne  and  Miss  Nancy  Meserve  of 
Madbury. 

March  15,  1846,  James  Follett  and  Miss  Sally  Giles  of  Barring- 
ton. 

Dec.  17,  1846,  Jeremiah  B.  Hoitt  of  Manchester  and  Miss  Angeline 
Magoon. 

Oct.  11,  1846,  Alfred  A.  Cox  and  Miss  Susan  C.  Stearns,  both  of 
Newmarket. 

Oct.  28,  1846,  James  M.  York  and  Miss  Lucy  A.  Willey,  both  of 
Dover. 

Dec.  29,  1847,  James  Tucker  of  Boston  and  Miss  Mary  E.  Savage. 

March  14,  1848,  Frederick  B.  Balch  of  Lancaster  and  Miss 
Thankful  H.  Vincent. 

June  11,  1848,  Alsom  H.  Evans  and  Miss  Mary  J.  Quint. 

March  12,  1848,  Augustus  Richardson  of  Dover  and  Miss  Lydia 
P.  Davis  of  Madbury. 

Feb.  6,  1849,  Noah  Davis,  2d,  of  Nottingham  and  Miss  Mary 
Ann  Sulivan  of  Lee. 

May  10,  1848,  Edgar  E.  Philbrick  and  Miss  Hannah  F.  Gilman, 
both  of  Exeter. 

June  11,  1848,  Charles  C.  Shaw  of  Boston  and  Miss  Hannah  A. 
H.  Pickering. 


39^  H1S1UK\      Ur     LIUKHAM 

Nov.  8,  1849,  Thomas  J.  French  of  Nottingham  and  Miss  Susan 

C.  Bassett. 
Aug.  25,  1849,  Charles  E.  Clark  and  Miss  Ariana  S.  Batchelder, 

both  of  Exeter. 
Sept.  4,   1849,  Mathew  Englin  and  Miss  Ann  Bassett,  both  of 

Dover. 
Nov.  8,  1849,  Joseph  Page  and  Miss  Hannah  Leighton,  both  of 

Lee. 
Jan.   24,    1850,   Leonard    Balch   of   Bradford,    Mass.,   and   Miss 

Hannah  J.  Parsons. 
Sept.  12,  1849,  Nahum  Heard  of  North  Berwick,  Me.,  and  Miss 

Jane  Spencer  of  Limerick,  Me. 
Oct.  22,  1849,  Rufus  Ham  of  Somersworth  and  Miss  Elizabeth 

B.  Pierce  of  Barrington. 
Feb.  11,  1850,  Joseph  A.  James  of  Lee  and  Miss  Mary  E.  Fernald 

of  Madbury. 
March  31,  1850,  Moses  Lamos  of  Lee  and  Sarah  Grey  of  New- 
market. 
Nov.  7,  1850,  Rufus  Philbrick  of  Rye  and  Miss  Hannah  F.  Mosher. 
April  26,  1850,  Mark  F.  Nason  of  Dover  and  Miss  Marietta  Nute. 
May    1,    1850,   George   F.    Peckham  of   Newmarket   and   Miss 

Caroline  E.  Odell. 


BAPTISMS 

The  baptisms  of  the  Rev.  Hugh  Adams  have  been  published 
in  the  New  England  Historic  Genealogical  Register,  Vol.  XXXIII, 
and  by  far  the  greater  part  of  them  are  interwoven  with  the 
genealogical  portion  of  this  history.  The  baptisms  of  the  Rev. 
John  Adams  have  never  been  published.  Those  that  have  not 
been  used  in  tracing  the  families  of  this  history  are  here  given- 
See  page  199. 

July  16,  1749,  Charity,  dau.  of  Joseph  Evans. 

July  23,  1749,  John,  son  of  Thomas  Ford  of  Nottingham. 

July  30,  1749,  Martha,  dau.  of  Nathaniel  Frost. 

July  30,  1749,  Dorothy,  dau.  of  same. 

Aug.  6,  1749,  Joseph  and  William,  sons  of  William  and  Hannah 

Glynes. 
Aug.  20,  1749,  Sarah,  dau.  of  James  Brown. 
Aug.  20,  1749,  Moses,  son  of  James  Hall. 
Aug.  23,  1749,  Samuel,  Daniel  and  Joseph,  sons  of  John  Shaw> 

At  a  place  called  Two  Miles,  in  Barrington. 
Aug.  23,  1749,  Cunningham  and  Abigail,  ch.  of  Federis  McCut- 

chin.     At  Two  Miles. 
Aug.  23,  1749,  Margaret,  dau.  of  Nehemiah  McDaniel.     At  Two 

Miles. 
Sept.  3,  1749,  Shadrach  and  Molly,  ch.  of  Shadrach  and  Mary 

Walton. 
Nov.  19,  1749,  Priscilla,  dau.  of  Joseph  Glidden,  Jr. 
Feb.  2,  1749/50,  John,  son  of  Eulice  (sic)  and  Hannah  Felker  of 

Barrington. 
April  11,  1750,  James,  son  of  Nathan  Fulsom  of  Newmarket. 
April  29,  1750,  Sarah,  dau.  of  Shadrach  Watson  (sic) 
June  10,  1750,  Nicholas,  son  of  Nat  Frost  of  Durham,  in  ye  Hook' 
June  24,  1750,  Rhoda,  dau.  of  Walter  Briant. 
July  29,  1750,  Moses,  son  of  Pomfret  Whitehouse. 
Sept.  9,  1750,  Mary  dau.  of  James  Hall. 
Sept.  16  ,  1750,  Gideon  and  Dorothy,  ch.  of  Josiah  Johnson. 
March  13,  1 750/1,  Jonathan,  son  of  Nathan  Fulsom  of  Newmar- 
ket. 
March  31,  1750,  Mary,  dau.  of  Nathan  Fulsom  of  Newmarket. 

39i 


392  HISTORY   OF   DURHAM 

April  28,  1751,  Samuel  and  Abigail,  ch.  of  Joshua  Trickey. 

April  28,  1 75 1,  Mary,  dau.  of  Thomas  Ford. 

June  2,  1 75 1,  Margaret,  dau.  of  Eulice  Felker. 

May  10,  1752,  Jean,  dau.  of  Shadrach  Walton. 

June  7,  1752,  Daniel,  son  of  Charles  Runlet  of  Newmarket. 

July  12,  1752,  Nathaniel,  son  of  Nathaniel  Frost. 

Aug.  15,  1752,  Peter,  Simeon  and  Josiah,  ch.  of  Jeremy  Folsom, 

Jr.,  at  his  house. 
Sept.  13,  1752,  James,  son  of  James  Morrison 
Sept.  11,  1752,  Pierson,  son  of  Christopher  Hunt. 
May  13,   1753,  Thomas,  son  of  Thomas  Ford  of  Nottingham. 
May  20,  1753,  Pomfret,  son  of  Pomfret  Whitehouse. 
July  5,  1753,  Dorcas  and  Moses  Bennet,  ch.  of  Benjamin  Burdett. 
July  19,  1753,  Susanna,  dau.  of  John  Shaw  of  Nottingham. 
Oct.  19,  1753,  Rachel,  dau.  of  Thomas  York. 
Nov.  18,  1753,  Phebe,  dau.  of  John  Johnson,  Jr. 
Jan.  24,  1754,  Jean,  dau.  of  William  Kelsey. 
Jan.  31,  1754,  Hugh,  Margaret  and  George,  ch.  of  William  Kelsey. 
April  29,  1754,  Obediah,  son  of  Ephraim  Clough. 
May  5,  1754,  Martha,  dau.  of  Joshua  Trickey. 
July  7,  1754,  Levi,  son  of  Nathan  Fulsom  of  Newmarket. 
Aug.  15,  1754,  Mary,  Dorothy  and  Mehitabel,  daus.  of  Samuel 

Watson. 
Oct.  13,  1754,  Anna,  wife  of  David  Davis,  3d,  and  Molly,  their 

dau. 
Nov.  22,  1754,  Agnes,  dau.  of  John  McDaniels.     Of  Two  Mile. 
Nov.  22,  1754,  Nehemiah,  son  of  Nehemiah  McDaniels.    Of  Two 

Mile. 
Nov.  22,  1754,  Jean,  dau.  of  Federis  McCuthins.   Of  Two  Mile. 
Feb.  7,  1755,  Abigail,  Hannah  and  Dodavah,  ch.  of  Dodavah 

Garland. 
March  11,  1755,  Anna,  dau.  of  Walter  Bryant. 
April  11,  1755,  George,  John,  Esther  and  Bethia,  ch.  of  Josiah 

Dam. 
Sept.  21,  1755,  Johnson  of  John  Johnson. 
Nov.  2,  1755,  Anna,  dau.  of  William  Glidden. 
Dec.  3,  1755,  Levi,  son  of  Jeremiah  Fulsom,  Junr. 
Dec.  3,  1755,  Sarah,  dau.  of  Samuel  Call. 
March  28,  1756,  Phebe,  dau.  of  John  Chapman. 
Aug.  22,  1756,  Deborah,  dau.  of  Moses  Weymouth. 


HISTORY   OF  DURHAM  393 

June  30,  1757,  Eleanor,  dau.  of  Nehemiah  McDaniels.     At  ye 

Two  Mile. 
June  30,  1757,  James  ,son  of  William  McDaniels.     At  ye  Two 

Mile. 
Oct.  23,  1757,  Mary,  dau.  of  Josiah  Johnson. 
July  23,  1758,  Joseph,  son  of  Josiah  Johnson. 
Sept.  3,  1758,  Stephen,  son  of  Stephen  Call. 
Sept.  15,  1758,  Anna,  dau.  of  Ephraim  Clough. 
Sept.  29,  1758,  Mary,  dau.  of  Ephraim  Clough. 
April  8,  1759,  Mary,  dau.  of  John  Fulsom. 
April  8,  1759,  Joseph,  son  of  Thomas  George. 
July  7,   1759,  Aaron,   Elizabeth  and  Stephen,'  ch.  of  Solomon 

Drown. 
July  7,  1759,  Robert,  son  of  John  McDaniels. 
July  7,  1759,  Mary,  dau.  of  William  McDaniels. 
March  23,  1760,  Elizabeth,  dau.  of  Joshua  Trickey. 
Aug.  31,  1760,  Betty,  dau.  of  Mark  Spinney. 
Aug.  31,  1760,  Andrew,  son  of  Joseph  Bussell. 
Sept.  20,  1 761,  Nathan,  son  of  John  Johnson. 


DEATHS  RECORDED  BY  THE  REV.  FEDERAL  BURT 

Aug.  2,  1817,  Mr.  Samuel  Knight. 

Oct.  26,  1817,  Miss  Susan  Downing. 

Dec.  18,  1818,  Mr.  Theodore  Willey,  aged  81. 

April  14,  1818,  Mr.  Humphrey  Richardson,  aged  33. 

June  21,  1818,  Mr.  Robert  Willey,  aged  58. 

Aug.  12,  1818,  Sarah  Henderson,  aged  5. 

Aug.  30,  1818,  Nathaniel  Kidder  Pendergast,  aged  14. 

,  1818,  Mr.  Thomas  Bickford. 

Dec.  —  1818,  Mrs.  Tuttle,  the  wife  of  Levi  Tuttle. 

Feb.  27,  1819,  Mr.  James  Folsom,  aged  72. 

April  1819,  Mr.  James  Critchett,  town  pauper. 

May  22,  1819,  Miss  Sarah  Denbo,  aged  70. 

June  29,  1819,  Clarrisa  Hall,  aged  92. 

Aug.  10,  1819,  Mr.  Samuel  Jackson,  aged  75. 

Oct.  10,  1819,  Mr.  George  F.  Smith,  aged  39. 

Oct.  11,  1819,  Mr.  John  S.  Pinkham. 

Oct.  22,  1819,  Hamilton  Young,  son  of  Daniel  Y. 

May  4,  1820,  Mr.  Ichabod  Bodge,  Jr.,  aged  24. 

Sept.  26,  1820,  Widow  Elizabeth  Dutch,  aged  87. 

Sept.  29,  1820,  Mary  Elizabeth,  child  of  John  Parks. 

Sept.  30,  1820,  Miss  Abigail  Buzzell,  aged  18. 

Nov.  30,  1820,  Miss  Lydia  Garland,  aged  46. 

Jan.  3,  1 821,  the  widow  Mary  Folsome,  aged  66. 

Aug.  27,  1821,  the  wife  of  Mr.  Robert  Jackson,  aged  56. 

Sept.  29,  1821,  Mr.  Samuel  Smart,  aged  73. 

Oct.  1,  1 821,  Miss  Hannah  Clough,  aged  78. 

Oct.  23,   1821,  Mr.  Daniel  Taylor,  bled  to  death  by  a   wound, 
aged  47. 

Jan.  5,'  1822,  Mr.  Bartholomew  Stimson,  a  pauper,  aged  52. 

Jan.   14,   1822,  Mrs.  Lydia  Hanson,  wife  of  Jos.  Hanson,  Esq., 
aged  33. 

Feb.   20,  1822,  Abigail    Channel,  dau.  of    Mr.   Abraham    Chan- 
nel. 

March  3,   1822,  Sally  Garland,  dau.  of  Mr.  John  Garland. 

April  15,  1822,  Flora,  a  Black  woman,  and  a  pauper. 

April  23,  1822,  Caroline,  dau.  of  Joseph  Hanson,  Esq. 

395 


396  HISTORY   OF   DURHAM 

April  22,,  1822,  Mr.  Samuel  Fowler,  aged  36.     Drowned  from  a 

gondola. 
April  23,  1822,  Mr.  John  Jenkins,  Jr.,  aged  23.     Drowned  from 

a  gondola. 
May  1,  1822,  Widow  Mary  Young,  aged  82. 
May  5,  1822,  John  the  youngest  son  of  William  Curtis. 
Aug.  29,  1822,  Mrs.  Rosamond  Daniels,  a  pauper,  aged  94. 
Sept.  7,  1822,  Mr.  Aaron  Twombly,  drowned  in  the  river,  aged  33. 
Sept.  30,  1822,  Mr.  Tobias  Tuttle,  aged  54. 
Oct.  23  1822,  Widow  Sarah  Hull,  aged  77. 
Oct.  27,  1822,  Mr.  Samuel  Nutter,  a  pauper,  aged  82. 
Nov.  22,  1822,  Mr.  John  Bean,  aged  31. 
Nov.  24,  1822,  Mr.  Nathan  Kenniston,  aged  40. 
Dec.  27,  1822,  Mr.  James  Fowler,  aged  23. 
Jan.  5,  1822,  Mr.  Edward  Furness,  aged  35. 
Jan.  7,  1822,  Mrs.  Elizabeth  Jenkins,  a  pauper,  aged  75. 
Jan.  13,  1822,  Mrs.  Abigail  Davis,  a  pauper,  aged  75. 
Feb.  11,  1822,  Mr.  Jonathan  Leathers,  a  pensioner,  aged  65. 
April  21,  1823,  Mrs.  Abigail  Roberts,  aged  104. 
June  2,  1823,  Mrs.  Molly  Willey,  widow  of  Mr.  Theodore  W., 

aged  84. 
June  20,  1823,  Miss  Maria  Mills,  aged  21 
Aug.  23,  1823,  Miss  Mary  Nutter,  aged  45. 
Nov.  9,  1823,  Miss  Betsey  Keating,  aged  66. 
March  15,  1824,  Mr.  John  Libbey,  aged  35. 
Aug. — 1824,  an  infant  daughter  of  Mr.  Jonathan  Clay,  aged  3 

weeks. 
Oct.  1,  1824,  an  infant  son  of  Mr.  Simon  Pickering,  aged  2  years. 
Oct.  27,  1824,  an  infant  son  of  Mr.  Joseph  Page,  aged  5  months. 
Jan.  8,  1825,  Mr.  Daniel  Willey,  aged  31. 
Feb.  1,  1825,  Mr.  Micajah  Davis,  a  pauper,  aged  86. 
Feb.  9,  1825,  Mrs.  Rebekah  Starbird,  wife  of  John  Starbird,  aged 

66. 
Feb.  3,  1825,  Mrs.  Sarah  Savage,  aged  78. 
Feb.  22,  1825,  Mr.  Phinehas  Willey,  aged  2j. 
March  28,  1825,  Mr.  Reuben  Clark,  a  ship  carpenter,  aged  28. 
April  16,  1825,  Mr.  Timothy  Davis,  aged  29. 
May  16,  1825,  an  infant  daughter  of  Mr.  William  Curtis,  aged 

11  days. 
June  1,  1825,  Mr.  Brackett  Furnald,  aged  22. 


HISTORY    OF   DURHAM  397 

July  18,  1825,  Mr.  Benaiah  Phillips,  aged  24. 

July  26,  1825,  Miss  Alice  Tuttle,  aged  18. 

Aug.  3,   1825,  Stephen  Henry,  the  infant  of  Mr.  Samuel  Hall, 

aged  6  months. 
Aug.  9,  1825,  George  Libby,  the  infant  of  Mr.  John  Parks,  aged 

6  months. 
Aug.  18,  1825,  Mr.  James  Cogan,  aged  47. 
Sept.  1,   1825,  an  infant  daughter  of  Mr.  Daniel  Cram,  aged  3 

weeks. 
Sept.   10,   1825,  an  infant  daughter  of  Mr.  Samuel  Willey,  Jr., 

aged  1  year. 
Sept.  21,  1825,  an  infant  son  of  Mr.  Daniel  Fowler,  aged  11  months. 
Nov.   1,    1825,  an  infant  son  of  Mr.  William  Furnald,   aged  9 

months. 
Nov.  15,   1825,  Capt.  Samuel  Starbird,  aged  44. 
Nov.  16,  1825,  Mr.  Hiram  Glover,  drowned  from  a  gondola,  aged 

20. 
Nov.  28,  1825,  Abigail  Tuttle,  the  infant  of  the  Widow  Tuttle, 

aged  3. 
Jan.  23,  1826,  William,  the  son  of  William  Tego,  aged  7. 
Feb.  19,  1826,  Mr.  Winthrop  Scriggins,  aged  67. 
March  7,  1826,  Miss  Sally  Cheswell,  aged  23. 
March  17,  1826,  Master  John  Woodhouse,  aged  17. 
May  "5,  1826,  Widow  Betsey  Patrick,  aged  80. 
Aug.  2,  1826,  Mr.  Daniel  Cram,  aged  34. 
Sept.  1,  1826,  Hannah,  a  child  of  Mr.  Daniel  Fowler,  aged  3. 
Sept.  11,  1826,  an  infant  daughter  of  Mr.  Jacob  Watson,  aged  I. 
Oct.  4,  1826,  Miss  Betsey  Stevens,  aged  60. 
Oct.  12,  1826,  Mr.  Nathan  Foss,  aged  43. 
Oct.  15,  1826,  Mr.  Hugh  Cox,  aged  70. 

Dec.  12,  1826,  Mrs.  Mehitable,  wife  of  Samuel  Furber,  aged  25. 
Dec.  12,  1826,  the  Widow  Grover,  aged  84. 
Jan.  5,  1827,  Mrs.  Elizabeth  Wiggin,  aged  70. 


INDEX  OF  PLACES  AND  SUBJECTS 


Academies: 

Berwick,  298,  310,  316. 

Colby,  300. 

Derry,  301. 

Durham,  261-4,  278,  301,  316,  333- 

Franklin,  323.  330. 

Greenland,  162. 

Hampton,  316. 

New  London,  310. 

Phillips,  Andover,  310. 

Phillips,  Exeter,  317. 

Pittsfield,  162. 

Wakefield,  307. 
Aeworth,  211. 

Administration  of  Cranfield,  12. 
Agriculture,  269. 
Alfred,  Me.,  80. 
Alton,  150. 
Amherst,  201. 
Amesbury,  Mass.,  26,  77. 
Andover,  Mass.,  166,  211,  288. 
Angel  Gabriel,  3. 
Anti-Slavery  Society,  253. 
Arlington,  Mass.,  332. 
Ashland,  143. 

Association  Test,  118,  12s,  140,287. 
Atkinson  Hill,  61,  62. 
Auburn,  Me.,  87,  212. 

Bangor,  Me.,  282. 

Baptisms,  184,  190,  199,  21s,  391. 

Barnstead,  29,  99,  146, 149,  289,  293. 

Barrington,  29,  191,  279. 

Belfast,  Ireland,  143. 

Bemis  Heights,  141,  144,  149. 

Berwick,  Me.,  13s,  148,  162,  290. 

Berwick  on  the  Tweed,  75. 

Bloody  Point,  80. 

Bon  Homme  Richard,  147, 

Boston,  Mass.,  75,  80,  91,  93,  116.  169, 

213.279.330,332. 
Boston  &  Maine  R.R.,  72,  87. 
Boundaries,  23,  24,  25,  31. 
Bow,  293. 

Bradford,  Mass.,  141. 
Bradford,  N.  H.,207. 
Braintree,  Mass.,  184. 
Braveboat  Harbor,  Kittery,  77. 
Brentwood,  283. 
Brickyards,  300. 
Bristol,  2,6. 

Brookline,  Mass.,  211,  318. 
Bunker  Hill,  121,  122,  123,  140,  141,  149. 


184, 


Burial  places,  38,  40,  50,  53-5,  87,  147,  149, 
ISO,  153.  164,  167.  173,  225,  239-347. 
256,  298. 

Burlington,  Vt.,  279. 

Byfield,  Mass.,  279. 

Cambridge,  Mass.,  123,  141, 143,  282. 
Canada,  57.  81,  90,  93,  98,  135.  146,  149.  151. 

282. 
Cannelton,  Ind.,  280. 
Canterbury,  29,  293. 
Captain's  Commission,  109. 
Captives,  102. 
Catholic  World,  302. 
Cedar  Falls,  Iowa,  282. 
Census  of  1790,  371-7. 
Center  Harbor,  281. 
Charleston,  S.C.,  298. 
Charlestown,   Mass.,  75,  79,  82-3,  123,  141, 

288. 
Charter  of  Durham,  17. 
Chatham,  Mass.,  99,  184,  212. 
Chesterville,  Me.,  24,  226. 
Christian  Church,  21s,  262,  304. 
Christian  Journal,  216. 
Cincinnati,  Society  of,  137. 
Colleges : 

Amherst,  207. 

Berea,  264. 

Bowdoin,  207,  211,  264,  288,  289. 

Cornell  University,  211. 

Dartmouth,  264,  27s,  277,  279,  280, 
282,  288,  290,  298. 

Denver  University,  265. 

Harvard,  138,  194,  197,  213,  264,  278,  281, 
282,  284,  287.  288,  289, 330. 

Johns  Hopkins  University,  330. 

New  Hampshire,  265,  275,  299,  309,  319. 
322,324,325,328,334. 

Norwich  University,  265. 

Smith,  264. 

Wellesley,  264. 

Wesleyan  University,  273. 

Williams,  205,  278,  281, 

Wooster  University,  273. 

Yale,  211,  264. 
College  Fraternities,  270. 
Collegiate  Roll  of  Honor,  264. 
Colonies  from  Durham,  29. 
Committee  of  Safety,  129,  143,  199,  294-5. 
Commons,  221,  225,  229. 
Concord,  Mass.,  121,  141. 
Concord,  N.  H.,  8,  236,  279,  284. 


399 


400 


INDEX  OF   PLACES  AND   SUBJECTS 


Congress,  116,  117.  122,  128,  13s,  141,  277, 

279,  281,  282,  294,  293. 
Congress,  Provincial,  22,  122,  128,  141,  142, 

278,  29s. 
Cornwall,  Vt.,  211. 
Crown  Point,  77,  143. 

Danielson,  Conn.,  78. 
Dartmoor  prison,  151. 
Deacons,  213,  303,  304,  316. 
Deaths,  390. 
Deerfield,  278. 
Depositions  of: 

JohnAult,  4,34- 

Philip  Chesley,  2,  46,  82. 

Moses  Davis,  223. 

Thomas  Doughty,  78. 

Tamsen  Drew,  93. 

Rebecca  Edgerly,  50. 

Peter  Grant,  79. 

Ann  Jenkins,  91. 

William  Leathers,  68. 

John  Meader,  50,  69. 

Joseph  Meader,  69. 

Benjamin  Matthews,  69. 

Bartholomew  Stevenson,  228. 

Margaret  Willey,  52. 

Thomas  Willey,  52. 

John  Williams,  52. 
Deny,  301. 
Detroit,  Mich.,  282. 
Distillery,  45. 

Division  of  common  lands,  17. 
Dog-whipper,  253. 
Dorchester,  Mass.,  330. 

Dover,  5-9,  17,  31,  35,  60,  147,  162,  166,  170, 
179,  195.  249,  257,  279,  281,  282,  28s, 
287,  291,  293,  294,  302,  307,  313,  327, 
334.359- 
Dover  Combination,  5-7. 
Dover  Localities: 

Back  River,  17,  33. 100. 

Bellamy  Bank,  219. 

Cochecho,  5,  80,  82,  86,  87,  183,  219,  227. 

Dirty  Gutt,  226-7. 

Dirty  Lane,  31. 

Dover  Neck,  2,  3,  3L  55.  64,  82,  169,  170, 
360. 

Hilton's  Point,  2. 

Little  Johns  Creek,  31. 

Royall's  Cove  14,  60,  359. 

Thompson's  Point,  2. 
Dublin,  Ireland,  143. 
Dunbar,  Scotland,  75,  79. 
Dunkirk,  N.  Y.,  311. 
Durham  Localities: 

Ambler's  Islands,  47,  50. 

Ambler's  Point,  48,  50. 

Back  Road,  230. 

Bagdad,  72,  226,  238. 


Durham  Localities: 
Bark  House,  203. 

Beard's  Creek,  6s,  66, 67, 101,  225. 
Beard's  Landing,  226. 
Beech  Hill,  246. 

Bickford's  Ferry,  48,  49, 96,  219. 
Brick  Meeting  House,  215,  263. 
Bridge  at  the  Falls,  231-2. 
Bridge  at  Johnson's  Creek,  17. 
Bridge  at  Lamprey  River,  233,  236. 
Bridge  at  Munsey's,  243. 
Broad  Cove,  35 
Broth  Hill,  341. 
Bunker's  Creek,  64,  227,  239. 
Campsie,  83,  229. 
Charles  Point,  47,  48,  50. 
Chesley's  Islands,  34. 
Chesley 's  Mill,  221,  225. 
Clift  Cove,  35. 
Cochecho  Path,  66. 
Crommett's  Creek,  37,  38,  49. 
Cutt's  Hill,  56. 
Davis'  Creek,  239. 
Dean's  Marsh,  230. 
Denbow's  Brook,  60,  214,  231,  239. 
Drew's  Point,  52. 
Durham  Falls,  15,  349,  360. 
Durham  Point,  15,  49,  57,  173,  293,  312. 
Field's  Marsh,  52-5. 
Follett's  Swamp,  or  Marsh,  72,  232,  349. 
Footman's  Island,  36. 
Franklin  City,  349,  360. 
Freshet,  60,  66,  76,  221,  224. 
Giles  Creek,  52,  228. 
Goat  Island,  61,  237. 
Goddard's  Creek,  7,  31,  33.  34.  35- 
Great  Bay,  31-2,  35,  49. 
Great  Cove,  33. 
Great  Creek,  49. 
Hay  Stack,  39. 
Hill's  Neck,  60,  61. 
Horn's  Woods,  230. 
Horsehide  Brook,  231. 
Huckins'  Brook,  67. 
Huckins'  Mill,  67. 
Jackson's  Creek,  229. 
Jewell's  Point,  35. 
Johnson's  Creek,  17,  47,  64,  66,  195.  219, 

233. 
Jonas'  Point,  49. 
Jones'  Creek,  64. 
Landing  Places,  32,  43,  45,  54.  58,  59,  60, 

67,  70,  221,  225. 
Little  Bay,  7,  38,  44.  359- 
Little  River,  19.  233.  234- 
Long  Creek,  41-5,  48. 
Long  Marsh,  56,  83,  227-8,  339- 
Lubberland,  7.  25,  33-6,  97.  185,  230,  249, 

295.331. 
Maple  Brook,  229. 


INDEX   OF    PLACES   AND    SUBJECTS 


401 


Durham  Localities: 

Mast  Path  or  Road,  71,  105,  219,  229,  246. 

Mathes  Neck,  36-8. 

Matthews'  Creek,  36-7.  49.  233. 

Meader's  Neck,  237. 

Mill  Creek,  42, 43,  48. 

Moat,  229. 

Mill  Road,  221,  225. 

Meader's  Creek,  42,  44. 

Moharamet's  Hill,  100. 

Moharamet's  Marsh,  225,  349. 

Morris'  Creek,  36. 

Morris  Point,  35. 

Needham's  Cove,  35. 

Needham's  Point,  35. 

Nigger  Point,  250. 

Oyster  Bank,  52. 

Oyster  Beds,  64,  169,  173,  226. 

Oyster  Point,  52,  64. 

Packer's  Falls,  13s,  150,  243,  307,  321,  350. 

Pascataqua  Bridge,  64,  235,  236,  237,  331, 

349, 360. 
Pinder's  Point,  35. 
Pitman's  Field,  56. 
Plum  Swamp  Brook,  44-8,  95. 
Pound,  203.  ' 
Rand's  Plantation,  44. 
Red  Tower,  343-4. 
Rock  Island,  237. 
Rocky  Point,  71,  170,  291. 
Shankhassick,  38. 
Simon's  Lane,  230. 
Spruce  Hole,  234. 
Stevenson's  Creek,  52-4. 
Stevenson's  Neck,  52. 
Stoney  Brook,  52-4. 
Stoney  Brook,  67-8. 
Stoney  Brook  Cove,  62. 
Sullivan  House,  60,  337-8. 
Sullivan  Monument,  136,  138,  139. 
Team  Hill,  228. 
Tickle  Point,  60-1,  237,  359. 
Town  Hall,  333~4- 
Turnpike,  236,  243,  331. 
Wakeham's  Creek,  52. 
Willey's  Creek,  48-50,  219,  228. 
Wine  Cellar  Road,  230. 
Woodman's  Creek,  67,  69. 


Exorcism,  183, 194. 

Falmouth,  Me.,  78. 

Fanaticism,  192. 

Farmington,  277. 

Ferries,  36,  48,  238, 

Fires,  44,  100,  334,  349,  353- 

Fort  William  and  Mary,  118,  120,  137,  140, 

146,  195. 
Free  Masons,  137,  144,  319,  328. 

Garrisons : 

Adams',  50,  94. 

Beard's  65,  86. 

Bickford's,  49. 

Bunker's,  62-3,  94,  103,  104,  351. 

Burnham's,  57,  90,  103. 

Chesley,  67,  244. 

Col.  James  Davis',  239,  292. 

David  Davis',  34,  35.  103,  356. 

Jabez  Davis',  303. 

Drew's,  40,  52,  92,  93. 

Durgin's,  36,  103. 

Edgerly's,  43,  45,  95.  103. 

Goddard's,  33. 

Hill's,  70. 

Huckins',  87. 

Jones',  64,  65, 98  100, 103. 

Meader's,  62,  100,  103. 

Rand's,  45. 

Smith's,  103,  295. 

Woodman's,  101,  103,  242,  351-3. 
General  Court,  143. 
Georgetown,  Me.,  184,  285. 
Gilford,  150. 
Gilmanton,  288. 
Gloucester,   Mass.,   148. 
Gondolas,  119. 
Gorham,  Me.,  286. 
Grange,   141,   142,  300,  306,  319,  320,  325, 

326,  329,  335.  345- 
Granite  Monthly,  320,  360. 
Grants  of  Land,  33,  35.  38,  41.  43,  50,  54.  55. 

58,  60.  64,  65,  67.  7i,  72,  76.  83. 
Great  Barrington,  Mass.,  211. 
Great  Works,  Me.,  33,  56,  75,  78. 
Greenland,  167,  252. 
Groton,  Mass.,  92. 


Early  settlers,  9-1 1 . 

Eastport,  Me.,  328. 

Effingham,  162. 

Electric  Light,  309 

Eliot,  Me.,  79,  92. 

Elks,  328,329. 

Elmira,  N.  Y.,  139. 

Epsom,  281,  286. 

Exeter,  6-8,  25,  31,  46,  76,  78,  81,  116,  122, 

123, 163,  191,  194,  277.  281,  288,  307- 
Exeter  Combination.  5,  7,  49. 
26 


Hampton,  78,  142. 

Harwich,  Mass.  211,  213. 

Haverhill,  Mass.,  99,  277.  278. 

High  Cost  of  Living,  130. 

Highways,  32,  43,  50,  54.  S6.  70,  72,  219-238. 

Hilton's  Point,   2. 

Hingham,  Mass.,  8,  45. 

Hogsty  Cove,  7. 

Holderness,  29,  143,  341. 

House  of  Representatives,  22. 


402 


INDEX   OF    PLACES   AND    SUBJECTS 


Incorporation  of  Durham,  16. 

Indians,  41,  44,  51.  56,  57.  65.  66,  69,  77.  80- 

108,  135,  239,  245, 
Inflation  of  prices,  129. 
Inns  and  Ordinaries,  60,  144,  339,  342. 
Ipswich,  Mass.,  83,  287. 
Irish,  76,  86,  13s.  143.  147. 
Isles  of  Shoals,  170. 

John  and  Sara,  75,  79. 
Jurisdiction  of  Mass.,  8. 

Kansas,  273. 
Kennebunk,  Me.,  80. 
Kensington,  216. 
Killingly,  Conn.,  211. 
Kingston,  278. 
Kingston,  Mass.,  138. 

Kittery.  Me.,  76-79,  81-2,  91,  142,  279,  286. 
Knights  of  Pythias,  137.  321,  324.  326,  328, 
329.  335. 

Lamprey  River,  4,  7,  31,  32,  71,  75.  219,  220, 

227,  291,  293. 
Lancaster,  282. 

Landmarks  in  Ancient  Dover,  302,  320,  347. 
Lawyers,  277-284. 
Lebanon,  277. 
Lee,  19,  21,  23,  25,  105,  125,  143,  146,  148, 

166,  200,  236,  249,  312. 
Lee  Hook,  33. 
Legislature,  145. 
Lexington,  121,  122,  141. 
Liberation  Paper,  252. 
Libraries,  215,  246,  269,  275,  297,  300,  315, 

320. 
Litchfield,  282. 
Londonderry".  280. 
London,  Eng.,  75,  291. 
Loudon,  149. 
Louisburg,    111-113. 
Louisville,  Ky.,  309. 
Lowell,  Mass.,  288. 
Lynn  Iron  Works,  75.  78.  79. 
Lynn,  Mass.,  78. 

Madbury.  23,  27,  60,  67,  100.  143,  195.  196, 

203,  227,  249.  287.  293,  334.  359- 
Maiden,  Mass.,  78,  334. 
Manufactures,  308,  324. 
Marlboro,  Mass.,  212. 
Marriages,  378- 
Mason's  Colony,  2,  51,  56. 
Massacre  of  1694,  90-102. 
Maysville,  Ky.,  254.  301. 
Medford,  Mass.,  122. 
Meeting  Houses,  22,  53,  54.  55.  58,  59.  92, 

101,  121,  137.  169.  171.  172.  173.  177. 

179,  180-183,  200,  201,  208,  215,  231,  236, 

239.  293.  303. 


Middleton,  330. 

Military  Drill,  271. 

Mills,  33,  37,  43.  45.  64.  67,  71.  75.  169.  219, 

233.  234.  306,  307-9- 
Minute  Men,  142. 
Moderators,  361-3. 
Monomoit,  Mass.,  99,  221. 
Moultonborough,  150. 

Nashua,  281, 

Natick,  Mass.,  167. 

Newbury,  Mass.,  58,  278,  291. 

Newburyport,  Mass.,  191,  277,  288. 

New  Castle,  118,  191,  294. 

New  Durham,  144,  150,  281. 

Newfield,  Me.,  286. 

New  Hampshire  Observer,  206. 

New  Haven,  Conn.,  83. 

Newichawannock,  2,  7,  83. 

Newington,  5,  80,  149,  150,  174,  183. 

New  London,  300,  310. 

Newmarket,  23-5,  60,  87-8,   142.   144.  U7. 

149,   164,   166,  201,  277.  278,  289,^290 

309,  324. 
Newport,  R.  I.,  147. 
Newtown,  88-9,   146,  231. 
Newtown,  N.  Y.,  138. 
New  York,  48,  309. 
Norfolk  County,  8,  65. 
Norridgewock,  91,  93. 
North  Berwick,   Me.,  321. 
Northam,  4,  6,  33. 
Northwood,  312. 
Nottingham,  29,  278,  280,  287. 

Odd  Fellows,  319,  321,  328. 

Odiorne's  Point,  123. 

Old  Houses,  337-360. 

Ordinaries,  See  Inns. 

Otisfield,  Me.,  287. 

Ottery  St.  Mary'.  Eng.,  51. 

Oyster  River  Parish,  15,  16,  181. 

Oyster  River  Plantation,  3,  S.^.'si.  38. 

Parish  of  Unity,  Me.,  75. 
Parsonages,  54.  55.  57,  92,  213-5.  339- 
Pascataqua  Navigation  Co.,  327. 
Pemaquid,  Me.,  89. 
Pembroke,  279,   286. 
Penacook,  92. 
Pepperell,  Mass.,  330. 
Peterborough,  278,  281,  288. 
petition : 

for  township.  13,  15,  170. 

to  the  King,  12. 

to  Massachusetts,  13. 

for  parish,   15. 

of  Rev.  Hugh  Adams,  19. 

of  Lee,  23. 

of  Thomas  Footman,  88. 


INDEX   OF   PLACES   AND    SUBJECTS 


403 


Petition: 

of  Thomas  Edgerly,  95. 

of  William  Graves,  97. 

of  Lubberland,  97. 

of  Rev.  Hugh  Adams,    105. 

of  Sarah  Adams,  145. 

of  Rev.  John  Buss,  172. 

of  the  Falls,  173. 

of  the  Point,  17S. 

of  John  Ambler  et  al.,  1 79. 

of  Thomas  Edgerly  et  al.,  181. 

of  Francis  Mathes  et  al.,  185. 

of  Madbury,  195. 

for  road  near  the  freshet,  221. 

for  road  through  Lubberland,  233. 

for  N.  H.  Turnpike,  236. 
Philadelphia,  Pa.,  122. 
Physicians,  144,  190,  285-290,  295. 
Pied  Cow,  33. 
Piscassic,  233. 
Piscataway,  N.  J.,  32. 
Pittsfield,  162,  182. 
Plymouth,    279, 
Plymouth,  Eng.,  2,  138. 
Plymouth,  Mass.,  4,  138. 
Port  Royal,  292. 
Portsmouth,  89,  99,  119,  135,  142,  144,  149, 

151.  279,  281. 
Post  Offices,  331-36. 
Price  of  Labor,  131. 
Price  of  Merchandise,  130,  198. 
Privateers,  151. 
Proprietors,  21-2. 
Providence,  R.  I.,  164. 

Quakers,  117. 
Quebec,  Canada,  in. 
Quincy,  Mass.,  213. 

Railroad,  B.  &  M.,  237-8,  312,  322. 

Raleigh,  147. 

Ranger,  147. 

Rate  Lists,  9,  25,  27,  76. 

Reading,  Mass.,  84,  286. 

Red  Man,  328. 

Representatives,  364-5. 

Revival,  205. 

Rochester,  29,  286,  293. 

Rock  Island,  237. 

Roll  of  Honor,  264. 

Roman  Catholics,  101. 

Rowley,  Mass.,  58. 

Roxbury,  Mass.,  330. 

Saco,  Me.,  78. 
Sagadahock,  46. 
Salem,  Mass.,  78. 
Salisbury,  211,  277. 
Salisbury,  Conn.,  206. 
Salisbury,  Mass.,  216. 


Salmon  Falls,  82,  208,  298. 

Sandown,  278. 

Sandwich,  149. 

Sandy  Bank,  Lee,  33. 

Scalps,  104-6. 

Schools,  175,  196,  257-75,  311. 

School  Districts,  259. 

School  Houses,  258. 

Schoolmasters,  257,  259,  261,  294,  296. 

Scotchmen,  60,  65,  66,  69,  71,  75-84. 

Scouting  Parties,  107-8,  in,  113,  114,  144, 

292. 
Seavey's  Island,  146,  147. 
Selectmen,  365-9. 
Shapleigh,  Me.,  140. 
Sherborn,  Mass.,  289. 
Slavery,  249-55. 
Slaves,  194. 
Snowshoes,  107. 
Soldiers'  Home,  165. 
Soldiers  in  Civil  War,  156-60,  276. 
Soldiers  in  Revolution,  131,  252,  342. 
Soldiers  in  War  of  1812,  151-2. 
Somersworth,  135,  143,  208,  278,  288. 
South  Berwick,  Me.,  33,  75,  76,  78,  81. 
South  Carolina,  190. 
Springfield,  Mass.,  212. 
Stage,  238. 

Stillwater,  Battle  of,  144,  149. 
Stratham,  40. 
Strawberry  Bank,  2. 
Strong,  Me.,  211. 
Sunday  School,  206-7. 

Temperance  Society,  305. 
Thompson  Hall,  268. 
Ticonderoga,  143,  148,  149. 
Town  Clerks,  363-4. 
Town  Hall,  ^33,  339- 
Town  Meetings,  17,  117. 
Trained  Soldiers,  119-121. 
Troopers,  in,  114. 
Turtle  Pond,  Lee,  88,  89. 
Tuthill  Fields,  London,  Eng.,  75- 

United  States,  129. 
Unity,  Ship  and  Parish,  75. 

Valley  Forge,  135,  149. 
Vassalboro,  Me.,  290. 

Wadleigh's  Hill,  233. 
Walpole,  330. 

Washington,  D.  C,  280,  309. 
Watertown,  Mass.,  34. 
Wednesday  Brook,  232. 
Welchman's  Cove,  36. 
Wells,  Me.,  77,  78,  285. 
Westfield,  Mass.,  213. 
Wheelwrights'  Pond,  60.  78,  88,  89. 


404  INDEX   OF    PLACES   AND    SUBJECTS 

Williamsburg,  Pa.,  162,  164.  Wolfeboro,  144.  330. 

Willimantic,  Conn.,  212.  Worcester,  Eng.,  75,  77. 

Wilmington,  Vt.,  207.  Wyoming,  Pa.,  282. 

Windham,  Me.,  281. 

Winter  Harbor,  Me.,  77.  York.  Me.,  77,  78,  80.  81,  82,  92. 

Winter  Hill,  Mass.,  146,  149.  Yorktown,  Va.,  141. 

Woburn,  Mass.,  141. 


INDEX  OF   NAMES 


Abbott,  Horatio  P.,  153.  156. 
Accason,  William,  187. 
Adams,  Annie,  59. 
Avis,  184,  215. 
Charles,  9.  12,  13,  38,  39,  47.  50,  93,  94. 

156,  171,  245. 
Charles,   Jr.,  12,  94. 
Elizabeth,  59,  286. 
Enoch  G.,  156,  160,  262,  264. 
Esther,  50. 
Hannah,  199. 
Hugh,  16,  19,  58,  59.  104,  105,  108,  144, 

182,  183,  184,  185,  186,  187,  189,  197, 

214,  215,  231,  245,  246,  257,  285,  287, 

294.  337.  339,  341.  379.  391. 
John,  59,  117,  118,  121,  123,  125.  158, 

191,  197,  198,  199,  200,  206,  208,  214, 

252,  286,  294,  379,  391. 
John  I.  I.,  264. 
Joseph,  184. 

Joseph  M.  R.,  38,  40,  153,  245,  368. 
Matthew,  197. 
Molly,  380. 
Nathaniel,  387. 
O.  D.,  262. 
Peter,  131,  252. 
Phebe,  246. 
Rebecca,  60,  337. 
Samuel,  19,  59,  60,  94,  112,  131,  136, 

145,  180,  187,  189,  203,  232,  246,  285, 

287,337,  362,  371. 
Sarah,  84,  144,  145,  199,  279,  286,  34: 
Susanna,  59,  144,  189,  246. 
Ursula,  50,  102. 
William,  123,  125,  131. 
Winborn,  60,  118,  122,  123,  125,  131, 

144,  145,  148,  149.  252,  257.  341- 
Agnew,  Nyven,  76,  81,  83. 
Ainsworth,  William  H.,  156. 
Allen,  Elizabeth,  386. 
Francis,  24. 
John,  14,  184. 
Miss,  262. 
Nancy,  386. 
Thomas,  174,  178. 
William,  27,  196. 
William  H..  153,  156. 
Alley,  Ephraim,  113. 
Ambler,  Abraham,  183. 
Hannah,  66,  98. 
John,  44,  48,  66,  95,  98,  107,  176,  179, 

182,  183,  213. 
Amory,  Thomas  C,  337. 


Andrews,  George,  277. 

Jane,  277. 
Angier,  Calvin,  287. 
Charles,  287. 
102,  John,  204,  241,  287,  345,  371. 

John,  Jr.,  287. 
Joseph,  287. 
Luther,  287. 
Rebecca,  287. 
Sophia,  287. 
Applebee,  Betsey,  387. 
173.  Joseph,  131,  151,  371.  380. 

206,  Thomas,  131,  171. 

293,  William,  371,  381. 

Appleton,  Margaret,  216. 
184,       Arlin,  Ann,  385. 
245,  Thomas,  126. 

Armstrong,  James,  156. 
Arwin,  Edwin,  11,  78. 
Ash,  Thomas,  13. 
Atherton,  Bradbury,  153. 

Charles  H.,  277. 
Atkinson,  Joseph,  19,  25,  231,  252,  257,  287, 
361,  365. 
Theodore,  181,  191,  223. 
Ault,  John,  3,  4,  5,  7,  8,  9,  33,  34,  35.  39,  43. 
44,  45,  46,  47,  48,  50,  82,  95- 
Rebecca,  43,  50,  95. 
144,  Remembrance,  44,  95- 

286,        Austin,  Elijah,  27. 

Joseph,  3. 
:-  Samuel,  80. 

Averill,  John,  156. 

Baker,  Andrew,  290. 
'  Charles,  113. 

Joseph,  19. 

Mary  J.,  290. 

Mattie  R.,  290. 

Samuel  H.,  143. 
Balch,  Frederick  B.,  389. 

Leonard,  390. 
Ballard,  Abigail,  206. 

Jane,  277. 

Joseph,  382. 

Joshua,  204,  221,  223,  241,  277,  349,  371. 

William,  203,  241,  345,  346,  362,  364,  366, 
367,  37i. 
Bamford,  Charles,  19,  223. 
^o,  Charles,  Jr.,  123. 

Sobriety,  149. 
Banter,  John,  377. 

405 


406 


INDEX    OF    NAMES 


Baptiste,  Jean  O.,  156. 
Barber,  Abigail,  77. 

Annie,  76. 

Daniel,  77. 

Hannah,  379. 

John,  ii,  76,  81. 

John,  Jr.,  76. 

Joseph,  77. 

Mary,  77,  379- 

Robert,  76,  77- 

Sicely,  76. 
Barefoot,  Walter,  12. 
Barhew,  Aenon,  216. 
Barker.  Alice,  387- 

Philbrook,  126. 
Barnet,  Mary,  380. 
Barney,  Jacob,  387. 
Barnum,  Samuel  H.,  211,  341. 
Barry,  Bartholomew,  385. 

Elizabeth,  389. 

James,  76,  81. 
Bartlett,  Charles  W.,  264. 

Elizabeth,  286. 

Ichabod,  277,  362. 

James,  206,  277. 

John  H.,  286. 

Joseph  C,  363,  368. 

Josiah,  126. 

Sarah,  144. 

Susan  E.,  388. 

Thomas,  216. 
Bascom,  Joseph,  244. 
Basford,  James,  19,  223. 
Basse tt,  Ann,  390. 

Susan  C,  390. 
Batchelder,  Ariana  S.,  390. 

Loisa  T.,  387- 

Simon,  124. 
Bates,  James,  262. 
Bean,  Ebenezer,  377. 

Harriet,  383. 

John,  152,  396. 
Beard,  Elizabeth,  65,  66,  67. 

Mary,  80. 

Mary  A.,  211. 

Spencer  F.,  21 1. 

Thomas,  3,  4,  71. 

William,  3,  4,  9,  51,  65.  66,  67,  86,  171,  225. 

William  H.,  211. 

William  S.,  212,  213,  351. 
Beck,  Abigail,  377. 

Henry,  6. 
Belcher,  John,  17. 

Jonathan,  186. 
Belknap,  Jeremy,  89,  94,  104. 
Bell,  Charles  H.,  278,  280,  281. 

Frederick  M.,  149. 
Bennett, ,  243,  244. 

Abraham,  19,  97.  107.  108,  109,  113,  172, 
174,  178,  183,  187,  233. 


Bennett,  Abraham,  Jr.,  ill,  371. 

Arthur,  11. 

Benjamin,  111,  187. 

Benjamin,  Jr.,  187. 

Ebenezer,  131. 

Eleazer,  109,  121,  244,  371. 

Jacob,  152. 

John,  97.  191.  203.  371. 

Lucinda  A.,  386. 

Sarah,  249. 

Thomas,  381. 
Bennick  (see  Bennett). 
Berry,  Eliza  A.,  166. 

Gov.,  162. 

Joshua  D.,  262. 

Richard,  154. 

Samuel,  154,  156. 
Bickford, ,  94,  96,  103,  244,  245. 

Abigail,  385- 

Abner,  25. 

Alphonso,  288,  289,  349,  360. 

Andrew,  204. 

Benjamin,  19,  24,  25,  27,  371. 

Bethiah,  200. 

Charles,  27,  197. 

Charles  H.,  156. 

David,  384. 

Dependance,  233,  234. 

Dudley  P.,  153- 

Dudley  P.,  Jr.,  153,  156- 

Edward,  158,  159. 

Eleazer,  18,  19,  112,  176,  180,  182. 

Eli,  124,  131. 

Eliakim,  128,  131.  376. 

Elizabeth,  381. 

Ephraim,  131. 

Ephraim,  L.,  384. 

Ernest  F.,  265. 

Esther,  371. 

Frances,  360. 

George,  233. 

Henry,  196,  197. 

James,  174,  178,  385. 

John,  9,  12,  13,  19.  43.  48.  49.  SO,  SL  55.  83, 
171,  176,  180,  182, 187,  204,  219,  365.  381. 

John  E.,  156. 

John  F.,  153. 

John,  Jr.,  27. 

Joseph,    19.    in.  114,  124,  131.  180,  182, 
187. 

Josiah,  131. 

Lydia,  93- 

Mary.  386. 

Mary  J..  360. 

Micajah,  126. 

Reuben,  371. 

Robert,  204. 

Samuel,  24,  25,  113.  114.  126,  131. 

Sarah,  380,  381. 

Susanna,  149. 


INDEX   OF   NAMES 


407 


Bickford,  Thomas,  13,  14.  16,  27,  49,  94,  no, 
187,  196,  197,  200,  288,  395. 

William,  204. 

Winthrop,  49,  371. 
Bines,  Jonas,  9.  38,  39,  47,  49,  83. 
Blaine,  James  G.,  284. 
Blaisdell,  Abijah,  124,  131. 
Bly,  William,  126. 
Blydenburgh, ,  356. 

John,  201,  203,  241,  343,  362,  366,  371- 

Margaret,  207,  254,  343. 
Blunt,  Joshua,  388. 

Sarah,  261. 
Boardman,  Jane,  207. 

Martha,  207. 

William,  207. 
Bodge,  Avis,  216. 

Benjamin,  25,  27,  126,  176,  180. 

Ichabod,  Jr.,  395- 

Samuel,  126. 

Stephen,  151. 
Boffe,  Jessie,  131. 
Boin,  Mary,  386. 

Bombazeen  (Indian),  91,  92,  93,  104. 
Bonely,  James,  115. 
Boody,  Azariah,  27,  115,  196,  19"- 

Benjamin,  182* 
Borman,  John,  379. 
Boudy,  Anthony,  156. 
Bowden,  William,  6. 
Bowles,  Mary  J.,  388. 
Boynton,  Ebenezer,  385. 

Joseph,  371. 
Bracey,  Sarah,  381. 
Brackett,  Benning,  115. 

James,  126. 

Joseph,  126. 
Bradley,  Benjamin,  24. 
Bradstreet,  Simon,  87. 
Bragdon,  Arthur,  92. 
Braggonton,  Sarah,  92. 
Brailey,  Benjamin,  126. 
Branscomb,  Arthur,  131. 
Brant,  Joseph,  138. 
Bray,  Henry,  io,  6o,  66. 

Mary,  46. 

Richard,  45,  46. 

William,  10. 
Brewster,  King,  253. 

Nero,  253. 

Timothy,  385. 

William,  277. 
Bridgman,  Martha,  262. 
Britton,  James,  156,  159,  246. 
Brock,  Haley  D.,  153. 

Nathaniel,  385. 

Nicholas,  27. 

Solomon  H.,  360. 

Stephen,  381. 

William,  371. 


Broderick,  John,  153. 
Bronson,  George,  10,  39. 
Brown,  Albert  R.,  265. 

Benjamin  F.,  381. 

Elisha  R.,  239,  288,  359,  360. 

Frank  R.,  265. 

Gov.,  162. 

Henry,  10,  76,  77,  78,  82. 

Jacob  K.,  154. 

James,  27,  113,  39i. 

John,  108. 

Mary,  380. 

Sarah,  391. 

William,  16,  197. 
Browne,  Margery,  135. 
Bryant,  Anna,  392. 

Dennis,  11. 

Elizabeth,  200. 

John  S.,  158. 

Rhoda,  391. 

Walter,  19,  200,  213,  233,  365,  391.  392. 
Buckminster,  Dr.,  173* 
Buckner,  Charles,  257. 
Bulie,  Elizabeth,  78. 
Bunker,  Abigail,  381. 

Benjamin,  112,  130,  240,  371. 

Catherine,  385. 

Charles  A.,  153. 

Charles  H.,  153,  160,  167,  168. 

Daniel  C,  153- 

Dolly,  167. 

Elizabeth,  381. 

Enoch,  131. 

Ephraim,  167,  371. 

Fred  M.,  240. 

George,  380. 

George  F.,  153. 

George  W.,  153.  160,  168. 

James,  10,  14,  19,  64,  83,  100,  103,  104, 
127,  176,  191,  227,  229,  240,  351. 

James  G.,  24. 

James,  Jr.,  14. 

James  M.,  153.  363,  364,  368. 

John,  13,  104,  108. 

John  J.,  153. 

Joseph,  14,  19,  227. 

Leonard  B.,  243,  246. 

Love,  385- 

Mary,  104,  385,  386. 

Mehitable,  207,  387. 

Mercy,  130. 

Stephen,  27. 

Thomas,  25. 

Tobias.  387. 

William  H.,  153. 

Zacheus,  131. 

Zechariah,  150,  151,  376. 
Burbank,  Zilla  B.,  349. 
Burdett,  Benjamin,  187. 

Dorcas,  392. 


408 


INDEX    OF   NAMES 


Burdett,  George,  169. 

Moses  B.,  392. 
Burgin,  Hall,  233. 
Burgoyne,  Gen.,  141. 
Burleigh,  Isaac,  371. 

Samuel,  24. 
Burley,  Josiah,  115,  126. 
Samuel,  126. 
William,  178. 

Burnham, ,  90,  91,  92,  96,  103,  245. 

Abigail,  200. 
Abraham,  262. 
Benjamin,  131. 
Caroline,  260. 
Ebenezer,  126. 
Edward,  131,  371. 
Eliza,  260. 
Elizabeth,  10s,  250. 
Elliott,  151. 
Esther,  150. 
Fannie,  265. 
George  W.t  154. 
Hannah,  260. 

James,  19,  58,  111,  131,  174,  178,  285,  341. 
James,  Jr.,  in. 
James  W.,  309,  36s.  369- 
Jeremiah,  12,  13,  14,  21,  55,  56,  57,  70,  73, 
107. 118, 130,  172, 174,  178,  200,  213,  227, 
228,  366,  371. 
Jeremiah,  Jr.,  251. 
John,  18,  19,  129,  151.  174,  178,  230,  260, 

37i. 
John,  Jr.,  in. 
Joseph,  150,  151,  152,  260. 
Joseph  S.,  362,  363,  364,  368. 
Joshua,  24,  25,  126. 
Joshua,  Jr.,  126. 
Josiah,  124,  125,  131. 
Langdon,  260. 
Mary,  58,  285. 
Moses,  260. 
Paul,  131. 
Pike,  130,  131,  371. 

Robert,  10,  11,  12,  13,  19,  43,  56,  57,  58,  66, 
67.  107,  108,  161.  171,  174,  178,  189,  204, 
365,  37i. 
Robert,  Jr.,  11 1. 
Samuel,  11,  12,  13,  58,  131,  249,  261,  341, 

363,364,367,371. 
Sarah,  57. 
Solomon,  25. 
Bums,  Harry,  156. 

Burt,  Federal,  204,  205,  206,  207,  241,  382, 
395- 
Mary,  205. 
Buss,  Abigail,  41. 
Elizabeth,  90. 
John,  13,  19,  55,  99,  92,  101,  102,  124,  131, 

171,  172,  175,  206,  213,  231,  285. 
John,  Jr.,  19,  174,  178,  190,  230. 


Buss,  William,  41. 
Butler,  Frances,  152. 

George  W.,  153,  368. 

James,  153,  368,  371. 

John,  138. 
Buzzell,  Abigail,  395. 

Andrew,  393. 

Ann,  385. 

Benjamin,  27,  114. 

Ebenezer,  27,  197,  384. 

Hannah,  379. 

Henry,  16,  27,  196.  197. 

Ichabod,  115. 

Isaac,  25,  27. 

Jacob,  197. 

Jeremiah,  383. 

John,  16,  27,  196,  197. 

John,  Jr.,  197. 

Joseph,  27,  124,  197,  393. 

Nancy,  382. 

Samuel,  27. 

Sarah  B.,  387. 

William,  16,  27,  196,  197. 

Caldwell,  Hannah,  384. 

William,  22,  127. 
Call,  Samuel,  392. 

Sarah,  392. 

Stephen,  393. 

Stephen,  Jr.,  393. 
Came,  Arthur,  81. 

Eleanor,  81. 
Camond,  Abel,  6. 
Campbell,  Hannah  G.,  386. 

Lucy,  386. 

William,  381. 
Canald,  Sophia,  385. 
Canney,  Ichabod,  27. 

John,  Jr.,  27. 

Thomas,  3,  6,  7. 
Canyda,  Thomas,  46,  77. 
Cardullo,  Forrest  E.,  213. 
Carignon,  Angelique  B.,  98. 
Carnegie,  Andrew,  276. 
Carroll,  John,  156. 
Carson,  Robert,  156. 
Carswell,  Tamsen,  384. 
Carter,  Andrew,  25. 

James,  381. 

Samuel,  24. 
Cartland,  John,  25. 

Joseph,  127. 
Cashey,  William,  24. 
Caswell,  Richard,  27. 
Cate,  Samuel,  383. 

Sarah  A.,  388. 
Cavemo,  George,  321,  369,  386. 
Chadburne,  Oliver,  385. 
Chadwick,  William  B.,  154,  156. 
Chamberlin,  Mary,  153. 


INDEX   OF   NAMES 


409 


Champernoon,  Francis,  6,  12. 
Chandler,  Samuel,  192. 
Channell,  Abigail,  395. 

Abraham,  395. 

Francis  P.,  385. 

Lydia  B.,  389. 

William  J.,  154. 
Channon,  Thomasine,  Si. 
Chapin,  Charles  H.,  211,  341. 
Chapman,  Ebenezer,  159. 

John,  392. 

Joseph  H.,  156. 

Mary  A.,  387. 

Oliver  H.,  385- 

Phebe,  392. 

Samuel,  379. 

Sylvanus,  159. 
Chase,  Enoch,  383. 

Oliver,  377,  381. 

Reuben,  396. 

Susan  B.,  388. 
Cheney,  Ira,  280. 

Irene,  343- 
Chesley, ,  86,  102. 

Aaron,  131. 

Abigail,  385. 

Alfred,  280,  34s. 

Alfred  E.,  156. 

Alice  M.,  65. 

Alpheus,  65,  115,  122,  128,  129,  130,  131, 
146,  366. 

Benjamin,  129,  130,  203,  282,  331,  332,  372. 

Benjamin.  Jr.,  115,  130,  372. 

Daniel,  65,  126,  320,  321,  365,  368,  369. 

Deborah,  146,  216. 

Deliverance,  68,  70,  80,  105. 

Ebenezer,  124,  130,  131. 

George,  14,  21,  25,  68,  71,  80,  105,  107,  126, 
216,  223,  234,  241. 

George  E.,  154,  243. 

Hannah,  191,  199,  304. 

Hannah  D.,  389. 

Hester,  98. 

Ichabod,  18,  19,  25,  178,  191,  234,  246. 

Ichabod,  Jr.,  174. 

Isaac,  372. 

Israel,  148,  215. 

James,  27,  104,  in,  152,  196,  216,  367. 

Jane,  207,  388. 

John,  107,  174,  178. 

John  S.,  1 54,  368. 

Jonathan,  19,  25,  27,  67,  107,  113,  114,  118, 
122,  128,  129, 130, 131, 174, 178,  190,  204, 
246,  252,  364,  36s,  366,  367. 

Jonathan,  Jr.,  204. 
-  Joseph,  19,  109,  no,  174,  178,  203,  349,  361, 
362,  365,  367,  371. 

Joseph,  Jr.,  130. 

Joseph  M.,  158. 

Joseph  R.,  244. 


Chesley,  Joshua,  16,  19,  25,  27,  152,  246. 

Lafayette,  65. 

Lemuel,  19,  21,  27,  126. 

Margery  S.,  320. 

Mary,  190,  200,  207,  372,  385. 

Mary  A.,  265. 

Mary  H.,  343,  345. 

Nancy,  148. 

Paul,  23,  24,  25,  27,  243. 

Phebe,  384. 

Philip,  3,  9.  12,  13,  14.  19,  25,  34,  46,  64,  65, 
66,  80.  82,  83, 104,  107, 130, 171, 172, 174, 
178,  191,  198,  204,  219,  241,  349. 

Philip,  Jr.,  13,  65. 

Reuben,  19,  27,  196. 

Samuel,  16,  25,  27,  67,  118,  122,  128,  129, 
130,  131, 152, 174.  178,  196,  197.  241,  361, 
362,  365,  366,  372. 

Samuel,  Jr.,  16,  27,  104,  174,  178. 

Samuel  P.,  363. 

Sarah,  207,  216,  372. 

Stephen  P.,  239,  369. 

Susan,  216. 

Thomas,  ir,  12,  13,  14,  22,  25,  65,  66,  103, 
105,  106,  109,  118,  129, 151,  234,  364,  365. 

Thomas,  Jr.,  14,  25. 

Wilbert  S.,  369. 

William,  260,  267. 

William  J.,  216,  232,  362,  367,  368. 
Cheswell,  Sarah,  397. 
Chidsey,  Fred  S.,  156. 
Chiles,  Hannah,  380. 
Chisholm,  Julia  C,  213. 

Oscar  H.,  213. 

Winifred  N.,  213. 
Christie,  Daniel  M..  288,  298. 
Church,  Israel  P.,  154,  339- 

Nathaniel,  385. 
Cilley,  O.  G.,  289. 
Clagett,  Wiseman,  282. 
Clark  or  Clarke, 

Abraham,  ir,  27,  64, 100, 102, 108,  196,  232, 
226,  227. 

Benjamin,  24,  126. 

Charles  E.,  390. 

Deliverance,  104. 

Eleazer,  107. 

Eli,  19,  24,  223,  230. 

Eli,  Jr.,  24,  109. 

Isaac,  126. 

James,  27,  156,  223. 

James  L.,  386. 

Jane,  383- 

John,  24,  381. 

Joseph,  24,  25,  277. 

Joseph  I.  C,  138. 

Mary,  149. 

Mary  P.,  386. 

Mehitable,  387. 

Nathaniel,  384. 


4io 


INDEX   OF   NAMES 


Clark  or  Clarke,  Remembrance,  27. 
Samuel,  115.  124.  *3i. 
Sarah,  382. 
William,  387. 
Clarenbrook,  Elizabeth,  384- 
Clary.  William,  182. 
Clay,  Asa,  386. 
Curtis,  384- 
Elizabeth,  380. 
Hannah,  383- 
Job,  384- 
John,  387- 
Jonathan,  396. 
Joseph,  21,  25. 
Martha,  386. 

William,  19,  108,  180,  182. 
Clayton,  Wilton  H.,  156. 
Clemens,  James,  126,  196. 

James,  Jr.,  197- 
Clement,  Albert  B.,  156. 
James,  27,  126. 
Job,  3- 
Sarah,  382. 
Cleveland,  Grover,  334- 
Cleves,  John,  156. 
Clough,  Anna,  393. 

Ephraim,  130,  372.  392,  393- 
Jonathan,  25,  345. 
Hannah,  395. 

John,  124,  12s.  131.  234.  366,  367.  372. 
Love,  345- 
Mary,  393- 
Obadiah,  302. 
Samuel,  124,  131. 
Zacheus,  24,  25.  126,  131.  345- 
Cloutman,  Caleb  B.,  216. 
Cochran,  Hiram,  385. 
John,  118,  119- 

Coe, ,  87,  345- 

Abigail,  349- 

Anne,  200. 

Anne  H.,  264. 

Curtis,  200,  20i,  202,  203,  204,  206,  214, 

241,  349,  371,  38o. 
Joseph,  241,  246,  253.  331,  341.  362,  363. 

364.  367. 
Joseph  W.,  262.  327.  333.  349- 
Mrs.  Joseph  W.,  281. 
Margaret  A.,  264. 
Coffin,  Peter,  12,  68,  223. 

William  R.,  154- 
Cogan,  James,  397- 
Patrick.  128,  130,  216. 

Stephen,  118.  151.  203,  244,  343.  366,  372. 
William,  367. 
Colbath,  Benjamin,  131. 
Betsey,  381. 
Dependance,  132. 
Downing,  132. 
John,  124.  132,  372. 


Colbath,  Lettice,  384- 
Ruth,  382. 
Sarah,  129,  376. 
Temperance,  381. 
Colcord,  Edward,  6. 
Ivory,  260. 
Sarah  A.,  260. 
Weare,  260. 
William,  260. 
Cole,  Abigail,  382. 
Coleman,  Daniel  S.,  154- 
Joseph,  113- 
Mary  C,  388. 
Oliver,  387. 
Oliver  W.,  154- 
Colkins,  John,  132. 
Collins,  Abraham,   11. 

John,  123,  125. 
Colomy  Jacob,  158. 
Comings,  Albert  L.,  215. 
Carrie  L.,  265- 
Mary  E.,  265. 
Conley,  James,  156. 
Conner,  James  19,  231. 

Timothy,  107.  178,  231. 
Connor,  Patrick  J.,  231.  369- 
Conroy,  John,  156. 
Converse,  Capt.,  88. 
Cook,  Hezekiah,  27. 

Reuben,  381. 
Coos,  Clarissa,  207. 
Copps,  David,  123,  125.  132. 
Corson,  Aaron,  154.  243- 
Charles  H.,  154- 
John,  154- 
Cotton,  William,  128. 
Couch,  John,  125,  132. 

Courser, ,  262. 

Cox,  Alfred  A.,  389. 
Hugh,  382,  397. 
Jane,  260. 
Craig,  Samuel  H„  368. 
Cram,  Daniel,  151.  383.  397- 
Edna,  388. 
James,  233. 
John,  385. 
Levi,  148,  385. 
Lois,  148. 

Cranfield, .  12,  291. 

Crawford,  John,  25,  128. 
Creecy,  William,  132. 
Creighton,  Margaret,  287. 
Critchet,  Elias,  14,  19.  97.  132,  174.  178,  223. 
Elias,  Jr.,  174.  178. 
James,  37L  395- 
John,  in. 
Crockett,  Ebenezer,  132,  151.  152. 
Elizabeth,  144. 
Jacob,  37.  203.  372. 
James,  132. 


INDEX   OF   NAMES 


411 


Crockett,  Jeremiah,  II,  14,  106. 

John,  19,  97.  107.  no,  174.  178,  187. 

Joshua,  19,  37,  109,  nr,  114,  366. 

Martha,  144. 

Moses,  132. 

Philip,  13,  33.  87,  ill.  132.  187- 

Samuel,  132. 

Thomas,  132. 
Cromwell,  John,  14,  97,  174. 

Joshua,  285. 

Mary,  377- 

Oliver,  75,  82. 

Philip,  3,  11,  14,  87. 

Samuel,  132,  376. 

Samuel,  Jr.,  376. 
Crosby,  Daniel,  285. 

Elizabeth,  285. 

Hannah,  59,  285. 

Jonathan,  58,  59,  285,  286,  341. 

Jonathan,  Jr.,  285. 

John,  285. 

Mary,  285. 

Sarah,  285. 
Crose,  Noel,  16. 
Cross,  John,  6. 
Crown,  James,  197. 

Susanna,  129. 

William,  132. 
Cummings,  Charles  D.,  154. 
Curmichael,  Ann,  77. 

John,  77. 
Currier,  Eliza,  288. 

Ruth,  144. 
Curtis,  John,  386. 

Loisa,  386. 

William,  386. 
Cushing,  Jonathan,  184,  194. 
Cuson,  Julia,  213. 
Cutler,  Ezekiel,  385. 
Cutts,  John,  35,  56. 


Dame  or  Dam, 
Asa  G.,  154. 


243- 


Benjamin,  152,  216. 

Benjamin  F.,  261. 

Bethiah,  392. 

Esther,  392. 

George,  152,  203,  244,  367.  372,  392. 

George  E.,  154. 

Hunking,  24,  126. 

Hunking  H.,  154,  244. 

John,  3,  6,  31,  132,  372,  392. 

John  B.  G.,  244. 

Joseph,  156,  372. 

Joseph  W.,  156,  167. 

Josiah,  392. 

Levi,  154. 

Maria,  156. 

Mary,  216. 

Moses,  24,  25,  126. 


Dame,  Moses  G.,  154. 

Sarah,  27,  379. 

Sylvester,  154. 

Thomas,  130. 

William,  158. 

William,  Jr.  196. 
Daney,  Hale  P.,  386. 
Daniel  or  Daniels. 

Abigail,  385. 

Ann,  77. 

Benjamin,  20,  113. 

David,  n,  25,  37,  78,  82,  115,  171.  196. 

Eleanor,  384. 

Eliphalet,  no,  112,  132,  203,  372. 

Eliza.  385. 

Jacob,  27,  196. 

James,  78. 

John,  16,  20,  37,  176,  180,  182. 

Jonathan,  196. 

Joseph,  16,  20,  27,  178,  182,  196,  197.  204. 

Joseph  Jr.,  20,  27,  180. 

Joseph  3d.,  16. 

Lydia,  387. 

Nathaniel,  115,  132. 

Reuben,  no. 

Rosamond,  386. 
Danielson  (see  Daniels). 
Davis,  Aaron,  25,  121,  242. 

Abigail,  396. 

Alfred  E.,  156. 

Anna,  392. 

Benjamin,  19,  109,  ill. 

Caleb,  260. 

Caroline,  148. 

Charles,  156. 

Charles  S.,  153,  156,  160,  164,  241. 

Charles  W.,  159. 

Clement,  24,  126,  132. 

Clement  M.,  216. 

Daniel,  18,  19.  S3.  54.  55.  no,  148,  176, 
180,  182,  223,  372. 

David,  11,  24,  35,  97.  103.  in.  ns,  126, 
132,  150,  151,  174.  187,  198,  244,  356, 
372,  392. 

David  O.,  156,  164,  233. 

Dudley,  124,  125. 

Eben  M.,  154,  244,  356,  365.  368. 

Ebenezer,  19,  106,  ill. 

Enoch,  260,  388. 

Ephraim,  19,  25,  27,  114,  231,  361,  365,  372. 

Everett  G.,  265. 

George,  260. 

Gertrude  I.,  335- 

Henry,  387. 

Jabez,  19,  109.  in.  227,  303. 

James,  19,  24,  27,  62,  68,  70,  89,  100,  101, 
ioS,  126,  176,  178,  182,  184,  189,  197. 
223,  225,  227,  228,  229,  239,  240,  292, 
293.  361,  364.  305,  372. 

James  Jr.,  19,  115.  176,  180,  182,  223. 


412 


INDEX   OF  NAMES 


Davis,  James  3d.,  176. 

Jane,  77,  99,  102,  260. 

Jeremiah,  19,  25,  109,  111. 

John,  10,  12,  13,  19,  24,  25,  43,  53,  57,  58, 
62,  89,  90,  102,  103,  107,  in,  126,  169, 
171,  176,  178,  180,  182,  234,  240,  365. 

John,  Jr.,  11,  12,  13,  109,  126. 

Jonathan,  25. 

Jonathan,  Jr.,  25. 

Joseph,  13,  19,  ioo,  no,  172,  174,  175,  178. 
187,  190,  223,  233. 

Joseph,  Jr.,  109. 

Joshua,  19,  109,  in,  174,  178,  203,  223,  227. 

Judith,  99. 

Levi,  372,  380. 

Love,  204,  242,  244,  372. 

Lucetta  M.,  337,  347. 

Lucinda  H.,  386. 

Lydia  P.,  385. 

Mary,  102,  190,  207,  260. 

Micah,  122,  132,377. 

Micajah,  396. 

Miles,  384. 

Molly,  392. 

Moses,  13,  24,  25,  90,  105,  107,  113,  176, 
223,  225,  232,  242. 

Moses,  Jr.,  105,  174,  176,  180,  182,  225. 

Nathaniel,  27,  196. 

Nehemiah,  25. 

Noah  2d.,  389. 

Paul,  14. 

Philip,  132. 

Robert,  25. 

Samuel,  16,  19,  27,  109,  182,  196,  197,  223, 
234- 

Samuel.  Jr.,  27,  196. 

Sarah,  102,  382,  384. 

Solomon,   19,   109,  in,  128,  182,  223,  381. 

Stephen,  383. 

Thomas,  13,  27,  109,  124,  132,  176,  180, 
182,  223,  372. 

Thomas  Jr.,  27. 

Timothy,  24,  108,  125,  132,  176,  180,  182, 
223,  396. 

Wallis  S.,  241. 

YVeare,  388. 

William  H.,  154. 

Zephaniah,  25. 
Dealing,  Abigail,  376. 
Dean,  John,  69,  70,  90,  101,  102,  230, 

Mrs.,  90. 
Dearborn,  James,  373. 

Mary,  376. 

Samuel,  331. 
DeMeritt  or  Demeritt. 

Albert,  73,  246,  275.  324,  325.  350,  35 1.  363. 
365. 

Charles,  154. 

Ebenezer,  27,  151,  197. 

Edwin,  261,  264. 


DeMeritt  or  Demeritt, 

Eli,  14,  16,  27,  72,  73,  108,  151,  174,  196, 
197,  242,  349,  351. 

Eli,  Jr.,  178. 

Frank,  264. 

George  P.,  73.  154.  156,  160,  351. 

Israel,  204,  243,  351,  372. 

Jane,  301. 

Job,  16,  27,  196,  197. 

Job,  Jr.,  27,  115,  116. 

John,  16,  27,  115,  120,  121,  122,  124,  196, 
197. 

John  C,  154- 

John,  Jr.,  27,  197. 

Joseph,  115. 

Katharine,  265. 

Margaret,  265. 

Mary,  216. 

Nathaniel,  118,  204,  243,  351,  372. 

Oliver  C,  154.  345.  368. 

Samuel,  25,  in,  114,  115,  123,  132,  147, 
242,  251,  286,  349,  351. 

Sarah,  345,  385. 

Solomon,  27,  115.  • 

Stephen,  151,  265,  267,  351,  362,  363,  364, 
367,  368. 

Timothy,  216. 

William,   16,   27,   196,   197,   215,   262,   263, 
351.  367. 
Denbow,  Denmore,  Dinsmore. 

Clement,  25. 

Elijah,  24. 

Ichabod,  24,  25,  111,  372. 

Nathaniel,  108. 

Richard,  20,  109,  in,  176,  230,  231. 

Peter,  20,  96,  102,  180. 

Salathiel,  11,  13,  21,  60,  108,  171,  176,  180, 
182. 

Salathiel,  Jr.,  109. 

Sarah,  395. 
Denmark,  Elizabeth,  78. 

Hannah,  78. 

James,  78. 

Patrick,  11,  14,  78,  82,  83. 
Denmore  (see  Denbow)  (see  Denmark). 

Patrick,  78. 

Peter,  180. 
Dennison,  John,  368. 
Dennett,  John,  191. 
Denney,  John,  156. 
Dennie,  Albert,  128. 
Deny,  Deliverance,  100. 

James,  11,  13. 

John,  11,  14,  72,  100,  102. 

John,  Jr.,  11,  12,  13. 

Joseph,  100,  102. 
Dexter,  Charles  R.,  156. 
Dill,  Mary,  285. 
Dinsmore  (see  Denbow). 

Cornelius,  126. 


INDEX    OF    NAMES 


413 


Dinsmore,  Elijah,  126,  132. 

Diuel,  John,  11,66. 

Dockum,  Jonathan,  151,  367. 

Sarah,  388. 
Doe,  Andrew,  J.,  134. 

Benjamin,  no,  in,  362,  364,  368,  372. 

Benjamin  Jr.,  130. 

Bradstreet,  233. 

Daniel,  no,  in,  112. 

Ebenezer,  151,  203,  216,  362,  367,  372. 

Ebenezer  F.,  154. 

Frank  E.,  244,  368,  369. 

Horace  B.,  154. 

John,  14,  20,  97,  no,  in,  112,  174,  178, 
230. 

John,  Jr.,  20. 

Jonathan,  132,  233. 

Joseph,  20,  24,  25,  no,  in,  112,  126,  151. 

Joshua,  132. 

Louisa,  207,  216. 

Mehitable,  207. 

Nicholas,  11,  32,  33,  34,  171. 

Olinthus,  N.  154,  246. 

Sampson,  14,  32,  34,  35.  97,  108,  174,  178, 
183. 

Sarah,  216,  389. 

Sarah  G.,  387. 

Wiggin,  372. 

Zebulon,  Jr.,  233. 
Doeg,  Austin,  309. 

George  P.  (or  H.),  156,  160,  165. 

John  H.,  156,  160,  167. 
Doer,  Edward,  387. 
Dority,  John  C,  156. 
Dougherty,  Abigail,  78. 

Benjamin,  78. 

Elizabeth,  78. 

James,  78. 

Margaret,  78. 

Mary,  78. 

Patience,  78. 

Thomas,  10,  56,  78,  82. 
Douglass,  Frederick,  255. 
Dow,  Ebenezer,  24. 

Jonathan,  126. 
Dowe,  George  M.,  154,  156. 
Downing,  John,  151. 

Joseph,  386. 

Richard,  383. 

Susan,  395- 
Doyle,  Albert  G.,  288,  389. 

Eliza,  288. 
Drew,  Andrew,  132,  147,  366,  372. 

Ann,  384. 

Benjamin,  94,  102,  151. 

Clement,  27,  108,  223. 

Clement,  Jr.,  27. 

David,  27. 

Elijah,  39,  no,  366. 

Elizabeth,  60,  171. 


Drew,  Francis,  27,  39,  40,  93.   102,  109,  132, 
151,  171,  196. 

Hannah,  386. 

Henry  A.,  154,  364,  365. 

James,  27. 

Jeremiah,  368. 

Joanna,  40. 

John,  19,  27,  39,  40,  53,  93,  94,  102,  104, 
no,  154,  156,  187.  233,  339,  341,  368. 

John  F.,  154. 

John,  Jr.,  109. 

John  3d.,  109. 

Jonathan,  381. 

Joseph,  19,  27,  40,  41,  59,  60,  100,  no,  in, 
151,  187,  233,  365,  372. 

Lydia,  93,  102. 

Mary,  40,  93,   104. 

Meshech,  27. 

Moses,  381. 

Nancy,  385. 

Nicholas,  244. 

Obadiah,  27. 

Paul,  27. 

Rebecca,  287. 

Samuel,  27,  151,  372,  384. 

Samuel  C,  204. 

Silas,  27. 

Tamsen,  39,  40,  92,  93,  94  ,102,  245. 

Thomas,  19,  27,  39,  40.  53.  92,  93.  94.  96, 
102,  104,  107,  171,  176,  180,  182,  187, 
223,  245,  365. 

Thomas,  Jr.,  27,  109,  no,  223. 

Thomas  3d.,  27. 

William,  9,  19,  38,  39,  40,  52,  108,  223,  228, 
229,  230,  245,  249,  361,  365.  366. 

William  J.,  264. 

Zebulon,  123,  125,  132. 
Drisco,  Cornelius,  108,  174,  178. 

James,  130,  345- 

John,  123,  125,  132. 

Sarah,  377. 
Drown,  Aaron,  393. 

Elizabeth,  393. 

Peter,  147. 

Samuel,  379- 

Solomon,  393. 

Stephen,  393- 
Dudey,  Duda,  Durrell. 

Benmore,  130,  187,  372. 

Joseph,  20,  50,  108,  in,  174,  178,  184,  187. 

Joseph,  Jr.,  1S7. 

Lemuel,  132. 

Nicholas,  22,  24,  366. 

Philip,  13,   14. 

Rebecca,  so. 
Dudley,  Capt.,  89. 

Hollis  O.,  152,  158. 
Dulen,  Edward,  79. 
Duley,  Philip,  180,  182. 

Philip,  Jr.,    180. 


4H 


INDEX    OF   NAMES 


Duley,  William,  174,  178. 
Dunn,  Elizabeth,  52. 

Hugh,  11,  32. 

Nicholas,  II,  32. 
Dunster,  Samuel,  208. 

Thomas,  6. 
Durant,  John,  377. 
Durgin,  Asa,  151. 

Benjamin,  20,  24,  25,  no,  126,  132,  187. 

David,  132. 

Eliphalet,  124,  132. 

Eliza,  373- 

Elizabeth,  216. 

Enoch,  152. 

Francis,  19,  24,  36,  no,  187. 

Hall,  233. 

Henry,  132,  147.  377- 

James,  14,  19,  36,  107,  no,  152,  178,  204, 
241,  280,  34s,  372. 

James,  Jr.,  19,  no,  183. 

John,  19,  24,  36,  no,  187,  233- 

John  W.,  154. 

Jonathan,  19,  no. 

Joseph,  19,  no,  in,  132,  187,  233,372. 

Joshua,  127. 

Josiah,  24,  25,  126. 

Levi,  132. 

Lieut.,  121. 

Mary,  372. 

Mary  L.,  386. 

Philip,  132,  377. 

Samuel,  126. 

Stephen,    203,    373- 

Trueworthy,  187,  366,  373. 

Trueworthy  D.,  123,  129,  132. 

Trueworthy,  Jr.,  233. 

William,  11,  13,  14,  19,  36,  97,  103,  no, 
176,  178,  187,  373. 

William,  Jr.,  19,  187. 
During,    Edward,    82. 
Durrell  (see  Dudey,  Duda). 
Dustin,  Thomas,  6. 
Dutch,  Elizabeth,  395- 

George,  126. 

Jeremiah,  132. 

John,  132,  377- 

Widow,  70. 
Dyer,  Samuel,  25 

Eastman,  William,  377. 
Edes,  Olive,  384. 
Edgerly,  ,   24s 

Charles,  158. 

Charles  E.  B..  156,  165. 

Daniel,  41,  152. 

Ebenezer,  373. 

Eli,  36,  37,  154- 

Elizabeth,  42,  96,  102,  165. 

George  E.,  156. 

Hannah,  41. 


Edgerly,  Jacob,  165. 

James,  132. 

James  B.,  154. 

Jane,  95- 

John,  14,  20,  41,  42,  43,  44,  95,  no,  113, 
115,  176,  180,  182,  187,  200,  234,  287,  373. 

John  Jr.,  20. 

Jonathan,  203. 

Joseph,  20,  96,  102,  no,  156,  176,  180,  i82; 
187,  230. 

Joseph  Jr.,  20,  187. 

Josiah,  144. 

Larkin  P.,  151. 

Love,  216. 

Maria,  388. 

Mary,  144. 

Moses,  187,  253,  373- 

Moses  Jr.,  233,  373- 

Nancy,  381. 

Rebecca,  43,  50,  95- 

Richard,  154. 

Samuel,  42,  43,  107,  151,  176,  180,  182, 
184.  203,  373- 

Samuel,  Jr.,  203,  373. 

Sarah,  200,  381. 

Susanna,  96,  102. 

Thomas,  11,  12,  13,  14,  41,  42,  43,  45,  46, 
95.  96,  97,  102,  103,  107,  128,  132,  171, 
176,  180,  182,  219. 

Thomas,  Jr.,  95,  102,  no. 

Temperance  A.,  260. 

Walter  S.,  334. 

Zachariah,  16,  27,  39,  40,  96,  102,  182,  196, 
197. 
Edling,  David  L.,  3,  82. 

Elizabeth,  82. 
Edmonds,  Abigail,  78. 

Robert,  78. 
Edney,  George  P.,  261. 
Ela,  Edna,  383. 

Hannah,  261. 

Joseph,  277. 

Richard  277,  362. 

Sarah,  277. 
Eldridge,  William,  99. 
Eliot,  Francis,  24. 

Jeremiah,  152. 

John,  24,   113. 

Jonathan,  382. 

Milenda  C,  386. 
Elkins,  Capt.,  123. 
Ellison,  George  W.,  156. 

John,  216. 

Joseph,  151. 

Thomas,  123,  124. 
Elwell,  Deborah,  380. 
Emerson,  Abigail,  207,  216,  316. 

Andrew,  204,  367. 

Charles  W.,  154- 

Ebenezer  T.,  154. 


INDEX   OF   NAMES 


415 


Emerson,  Edward  L.,  239,  240. 

Edward  W.,  149,  373. 

Frank,  244. 

George  P.,  240. 

Jeremiah,  204. 

John,  45,  46,  us,  126,  154,  204,  368. 

John  P.,  154. 

John  T.,  240,  349. 

John  VV.,  241. 

Joseph,  373. 

Judith,  99,  100. 

Laura,  207. 

Mary.  385. 

Micah,  24,  27. 

Moses,  21,  25,  118,  122,  125,  129,  132,  349, 
361. 

Moses,  3d.,  151. 

Olive,  149,  156,  216. 

Samuel,  20,  109    115,  126,  154,  183,  213, 
246,  251. 

Sarah,  277. 

Smith,  22,  126,  132,  146,  149,  150,  251,  368. 

Solomon,  25,  27,  196,  197,  251. 

Timothy,  20,  128,  129,  132,  152,  203,  249, 
286,  362,  366,  373- 

William,  113,  204. 
Emery.  Anthony,  3,  6,  10. 
Englin,  Matthew,  390. 
Erwin,  Edward,  77,  78,  81. 
Estabrook,  Marcus  M.,  217. 
Eurin  or  Errin  (see  Erwin). 
Evans,  Alsom,  389. 

Benjamin,    16,   380. 

Charity,  391. 

Daniel,  27. 

Edward,  191. 

John,  27,  197. 

Joseph,  27,  391. 

Joseph,  Jr.,  196. 

Robert,  196. 

Stephen,  27,  150,  203,  236,  377. 

Thomas,  27,  379. 

Fairchild,  Edward  T.,  272,  273. 
Farmer,  John,  93. 
Farnham,  Abigail,  260. 

John,  260. 

Susan,  260. 
Farr,  John,   156. 
Farrand,  Daniel,  279. 

Francis  J.,  279. 
Felker, ,  245. 

Abraham,  25. 

Amos,  124,  126,  132. 

Brackett,  396. 

Dimond,  126. 

James,  41,  362. 

Mary  E.,  390. 

Pamelia,  386. 

Sophia,  387. 


Felker,  William,  397. 

William  J.,  156. 
Ffarrabas,  William,  79. 
Ffrost  (see  Frost),  70,  71,  246. 

George,  118,  332.  342- 

George  Jr.,  152. 

Margaret,  29s. 

Margaret  B,,  340.  342. 

William  P.,  241. 
Field,  Darby,  4,  9,  48,  49,  51,  52,  58. 

Joseph,  10,  12,  52,  53,  54.  I7i- 

Samuel,  380. 

Zechariah,  11,  53,  54,  104,  171. 
Fish,  Jonathan,  25. 
Fisk,  Elizabeth,  379. 

Jonathan,  126,  380. 
Flag,  Lieut.,  88. 
Flagg,  Israel,  Jr.,  307,  308. 
Flanders,  Dr.,  289. 

Hilliard,  264. 

John,  385. 

Thomas,  349. 
Fletcher,  Edward,  169. 
Fling,  Anthony,  126. 
Flint,  Polly,  377- 
Flora  (Negro),  395. 
Floyd,  John,  88. 
Fogg,  Capt.,  147. 

David  H„  203,  365,  369. 

Hilliard  F.  225,  243,  368. 

Horatio,  386. 

James,  382. 
Follett,  Benjamin,  78. 

Caroline,  207. 

Charles,  260. 

Ichabod,  20,  108,  176,  180,  182. 

James,  389. 

Jennie,  381. 

John,  6,  20,  24,  25,  126. 

Joseph,  126. 

Nicholas,  11,  53,  54,  103,  249. 

Patience,  78. 

Prudence,  25. 

Richard,  216,  260 

William,  10,  64,  225,  226. 
Folley,  Samuel,  20. 
Folsom,  Abigail  H.,  261. 

Betty,  349- 

Ephraim,  128,  280,  345. 

Gen.,  123. 

James,  373.  39L  395- 

Jeremiah,  Jr.,  128,  392. 

John,   12,   128,  393. 

Jonathan,  391. 

Joseph,  377. 

Josiah,  382,  392. 

Levi,  392. 

Mary,  53,  391,  393.  395. 

Nathan,  391,  392. 

Peter,  126,  392. 


4i6 


INDEX    OF   NAMES 


Folsom,  Simeon,  392. 
Footman,   Benjamin,   180,   182. 

Francis,  53,  no,  178. 

John,  20,  108,  no,  132,  176,  180,  182,  187. 

John,  Jr.,  20. 

Joseph,  20,  no,  180,  182,  187,  233. 

Susan,  383. 

Thomas,  10,  20,  36,  37.  40,  43,  45.  46,  47, 
49.  53.  83,  89,  lai,  125,  132,  176,  180, 
182,  187,  232. 

William,  152. 
Ford,  Benjamin,  383. 

Ebenezer,  383. 

John,  391. 

Mary,  392. 

Thomas,  391,  392. 
Foss, ,  241. 

Leonard  B.,  154. 

Priscilla,  387. 

Nathan,  397. 

Richard,  380. 
Fowler,  Clarence,  240. 

Daniel,  397. 

Daniel,  Jr.,  382. 

George,  154. 

Hannah,  397. 

Harriet,  288. 

James,  396. 

Joseph,  154. 

Morris,  16,  196. 

Nancy,  216. 

Philip,  132. 

Samuel,  396. 

William,  197,  288. 
Fox,  Elijah,  126. 
Foy,  John,  Jr.,  196. 
Foye,  Blanche  M.,  265. 
Frost  (see  Ffrost), ,  396. 

Charles,  79,  249. 

David,  388. 

Dorothy,  388. 

Elizabeth,  79. 

George,  118,  152,  251,  252,  261,  294,  332, 
342,  343.  361,  364,  366,  373- 

George,  Jr.,  152,  203. 

George  S.,  154,  264. 

John,  204,  294,  342,  362. 

Margaret,  391. 

Margaret  B.,  340,  342. 

Martha,  391. 

Mary,  294,  342,  385. 

Nathaniel,  24,  126,  132,  187,  391,  392. 

Nicholas,  92,  132,  391. 

Winthrop,  132. 
Frye,  Miriam,  381. 
Fryer,  Nathaniel,  12. 
Furber,  Eli,  126. 

George  W.,  388. 

Jethro,  234. 

John  B.,  387. 


Furber,  Mehitable,  397. 

Moses,  190. 

Richard,  388. 

Samuel,  397. 
Furbish,   William,   79,    82. 
Furbush,  William,  79,  82. 
Furness,  Edward,  396. 

Patrick,  373. 

Robert,  151,  247. 

Gage,  Hannah,  380. 

Mary  W.,  382. 

William  H.,  388. 
Gammon,  Charles,  156. 
Garland,  Abigail,  392. 

Betsey,  387. 

Dodavah,  392. 

Dorothy,  207. 

Ebenezer,  27. 

Ebenezer  C,  388. 

Elizabeth,  388. 

Hannah,  392. 

Jacob,  151. 

John,  395. 

Joseph,  Jr.,  388. 

Lydia,  395- 

Nathaniel,  385. 

Peter,  6. 

Sarah,  207,  395. 
Garrison,  William  L.,  254. 
Gear,  Joseph,  385. 

Margaret,  385. 

Mary,  385. 

Olive,  386. 

Sarah,  384. 

Thomas,  387. 

Gellison, ,  100,  102. 

George,  Isaac  B.,  154. 

Joseph,  393. 

Thomas,  115,  393. 
Gerrish,  Benjamin,  115,383. 

Ferdinando  E.,  154,  157. 

Hannah,  148. 

John,  227. 

Paul,  28,  197. 

Paul,  Jr.,  196. 

Peggy.  377- 

Samuel,  146. 

Samuel  B.,  386. 

Timothy,  132. 
Gerry,  Amos  H.,  386. 

Gibbons,  Ambrose,  3.  4.  8,  9.  io,  55.  56,  57. 
58,  64,  245. 

Rebecca,  57. 
Gibbs,  William  D.,  271. 
Giles,  Frank  E.,  368. 

Job  R.,  217. 

John,  24,  25. 

Matthew,  9,  51,  228. 

Paul,  200. 


INDEX   OF   NAMES 


417 


Giles,  Ruel,  126. 

Sarah.  389. 
Gilman,  Bartholomew,  194. 

Colonel,  109,  143,  150. 

Governor,  280. 

Hannah  F.,  389. 

Joseph,  20,  194. 

Josiah,  194. 

Mary,  194. 

Mary  A.,  332,  383. 

Nicholas,  185,  191,  192,  193,  194,  195,  198, 
231. 

Tristram,  194. 
Gilmore,  George  A.,  112,  113. 

James,  118,  129,  130,  240,  373. 

Robert,  235,  237. 
Glasier,  Benjamin,  380. 

Stephen,  25. 
Gleason,  Albert,  154,  216. 

John,  1 57. 
Glidden,  Anna,  392. 

Benjamin,  190. 

David  S.,  154. 

Elizabeth,  382. 

Gideon,  132. 

Joseph,  21,  in,  198. 

Joseph,  Jr.,  391. 

Lydia,  380. 

Mary,  190,  379.  380. 

Priscilla,  391. 

William,  28,  126,  132,  197,  392. 
Glines,  William,  16,  176,  180,  182. 
Glover,  Abigail,  384. 

Caroline,  386. 

Hiram,  397. 

John,  25,  124,  126,  132. 

Jonathan,  384. 

Mary,  28. 

Richard,  25,  127,  230. 

Thomas,  197. 
Glynes,  Hannah,  391. 

Joseph,  391. 

William,  391. 
Goddard,  John,  3,  7,  9,  31,  32,  33,  33,  53,  171. 
Goe,  George,  II. 
Goen,  William,  126. 
Goff,  John,  148. 
Golliez,  Edward,  157. 
Goodrich,  John,  157. 
Goodwin,  Ichabod,  310. 

James  L.,  157. 

John  D.,  388. 

Robert,  157. 

Statira,  383. 
Gookin,  Nathaniel,  20. 
'Gould,  Christopher,  380. 
Gove,  Elijah,  204. 
Gowen,  Elizabeth,  79. 

William,  83,  126. 
Gowing,  Alexander,  79. 
27 


Graham,  Edward,  182. 
Grant,  Abigail,  34. 

Albert  E.,  289. 

Christopher.  3.1. 

James,  79. 

Joan.  79. 

Peter,  79. 

Thomas,  373- 

Ulysses  S.,  333. 
Graves,  William,  ro,  97,  2.29. 
Gray  or  Grey. 

Elizabeth,  379. 

Francis,  387. 

George,  no. 

John,  20,  no,  174.  178, 

Reuben,  197. 

Samuel,  25. 

Sarah,  390. 
Greeley,  Jonathan.  387. 

Samuel,  204. 
Green,  Enoch,  124,  125.  t}2 

Henry,  12. 

Mary,  39. 

Mary  A.,  289. 

Mattie  R.,  289. 

Samuel  H.,  154,  289. 

Simon  P.,  289. 

Walter  B.,  289. 
Gregg,  Sarah,  207. 
Griffin,  Adaline,  207. 

Adoniram,  148,  152. 

Hannah,  148,  373- 

John,  118,  123,  124,  125,  C30.  132,  143,  259, 
366. 

Keziah,  148. 

Mary,  148. 

Nancy,  148. 

Ruth,  148. 

Widow,  203,  259. 

William,  148. 

Winborn,  148. 
Griffiths, ,  22s,  245. 

Arioch  W.,  309.  323.  324.  363.  369- 

David  F.,  244,  247. 

Edward,  152,  367,  368. 

Edward  B.,  154. 

Sarah  E.,  244. 

William  H..  154. 
Grover,  Hannah,  167- 

Henry  H.  B.,  217. 

George,  204. 

Jane  F,  383. 

John,  373. 

John  H.  L.,  157- 

Mary,  384. 

Patience,  384. 

Rhoda,  381. 

Widow,  397- 
Gynnison,  Patrick,  80 . 
Gypson,  Ann,  379. 


4i8 


INDEX    OF    NAMES 


Haddock,  Mary.  386. 
Haines,  Ransom,  385. 

Samuel,  3,  6. 

Thomas  J.,  368. 
Hale,  Colonel,  149. 

Samuel,  112. 
Haley,  Michael,  154. 
Hall,  Abigail,  384. 

Benjamin,  114,  132,  196,  380. 

Clarissa,  395. 

Hester,  98. 

Jacob,  385- 

James,  20,  24,  132,  234,  391. 

John,  3,  6,  20,  32,  132,  219. 

Lafayette,  154.  364. 

Mary,  391. 

Moses,  391. 

Penniel,  385- 

Ralph,  3,  16,  31,  81,  169,  193,  196,  219. 

Samuel,  384,  397. 

Stephen  H.,  397. 
Halloway,  Henry.  11. 
Halstead,  Wallace,  160. 
Ham,  Abigail,  386. 

Charles  M.,  157. 

Charlotte.  384. 

Daniel,  Jr.,  386. 

Hannah,  381,  384. 

John,  28,  278,  384. 

John  F.,  154. 

John,  Jr.,  28. 

Jonathan,  384. 

Joseph,  233.  389- 

Lydia,  384.  385- 

Martha,  383,  385. 

Martha  A.,  387. 

Mary,  384. 

Nathaniel,  151 

Patience,  381. 

Rufus,  390. 

Sarah,  385. 

Thomas,  373. 
Hammond,  Isaac  VV.,  181. 
Hance,  John,  11,  12. 
Hancock,  Nathaniel,  157- 
Hanscom,  Moses,  152. 
Hanscomb,  Aaron,  26. 

Cara,  213. 

Lucy,  377- 
Hanson,  Aaron,  127. 

Betty,  382. 

Caroline,  395. 

Daniel,  381. 

Ebenezer,  382. 

George  W.,  157. 

James,  28,  385- 

John,  206. 

John  A.,  154.  157. 

Jonathan,  28,  196. 

Joseph,  in,  206,  395. 


Hanson,  Joseph,  Jr.,  383. 

Lydia,  395- 

Mary,  384- 

Nathaniel,  28. 

Patience,  385. 

Samuel,  28,  384. 

Sarah,  279. 

Sophia,  387. 

Stephen,  28. 

Timothy,  28.  385. 

William,  204. 
Hardy,  Captain,  193. 

Charles,  261. 

Daniel,  349- 

Margery,  282,  331. 

Mary,  261,  331.     *$ 

Theophilus,  128,  261,  331,  373- 

Thomas,  118. 
Harris,  Nicholas,  11. 
Harrison,  Benjamin,  334. 

Nicholas,  219. 
Hartford,  John,  380. 

Nicholas,  283. 
Hartwell,  Joseph,  387. 
Harvey,  Pike  P.,  387. 

Richard  J.,  384. 
Haughey,  Peter,  157. 
Hawkins,  Otis  W.,  157. 
Hayden,  William  388. 
Hayes,  Alice,  243. 

Bernice  M.,  265. 

Charles  W.  H.,  157. 

Chauncey  E.,  334. 

Daniel,  28,  113. 
•   Ezra,  154. 

Ichabod,  28. 

Jacob,  384. 

John,  383. 

John  S.,  154,  261,  262. 

Leslie  D.,  265. 

Mabel  L.,  265. 

Margaret,  384. 

Samuel,  243,  247,  382. 

Warren  C,  265. 
Hazelton,  Chesley  D.,  389- 
Hazen, ,  148. 

Lois,  148. 
Heald,  James,  20. 
Heard,  John,  3,  6. 

Reuben,  113. 

Tristram,  70,  227. 
Hearne,  Hannah,  381. 
Henderson,  Betsey,  207. 

Mrs.,  216. 

Paul,  384. 

Sarah,  395. 
Henney,  Thomas,  159. 

William, 159. 
Hepworth,  Cephas,  159- 
Hewins,  Otis  W.,  157 


INDEX   OF   NAMES 


419 


Hewitt,  Charles  E.,  213. 
Hicks,  Benjamin,  132. 

Eleanor,  381. 

Joseph,  16,  24,  28,  180,  182,  196,  197,  223. 

Samuel,  130. 
Higgins,  Reuben,  388. 
Hill. ,  242. 

Alfred  H.,  158. 

Benjamin,  28. 

Edward,  24,  25,  114,  lis,  126. 

Eliphalet,  25. 

Elizabeth,  55,  287. 

Hannah,  149,  381. 

Henry,  20,  ill,  369. 

Ira  B.,  243,  365,  369. 

John,  10,  39,  43,  45,  47,  48,  49,  US.  128, 
171,  291,  298. 

Jonathan,  25. 

Joseph,  11,  12,  48,  379. 

Nathaniel,  11,  12,  13,  20,  23,  59,  67,  68,  69, 
70,  102,  107,  118,  128,  129,  130,  178, 
183,  191,  213,  221,  223, 341,  345,  349,  364, 
365. 

Reuben,  24,  126. 

Robert,  26,  115,  128. 

Samuel,  11,  12,  26,  55,  126,  149,  174. 

Samuel,  Jr.,  26. 

Sarah,  388. 

Thomas,  132. 

Valentine,  10,  20,  26,  54,  60,  62,  68,  69,  70, 
7i.  72,  75,  76,  77,  78,  80,  82,  169,  170, 
174.  I"8,  187,  291,  34°'.  341.  342,  349. 
3Si.  364,  365,  366. 

Willey,  132. 

William,  11,  20,  28,  176,  180,  182,  196. 
Hilliard,  Emmanuel,  46. 

Timothy,  261. 

Hills, ,  262. 

Hilton,   Benjamin,   190. 

Colonel,  107. 

Edward,  11. 

George  K.,  262. 

John,  3. 

Richard,  190. 

William,  3,  7,  67,  68,  69,  249. 
Hobart,  Samuel,  125. 
Hobbs,  William  R.,  154. 
Hodgdon,  Caleb,  147. 

Israel,  28. 

Joseph,  382. 

Joseph  H.,  1S4. 

Matthew,  386. 

Moses,  385. 

R.  L.,  162. 

Sarah,  148. 

Stephen,  148. 
Hoitt,  Alfred,  312,  313,  325.  349.  365. 

Alfred  D.,  332. 

Charles  E.,  262,  325,  326,  349,  365,  368,  369. 

George,  159. 


Hoitt,  George  G.,  243,  369. 

Ira  G.,  262. 

Jeremiah  B.,  389. 

Joseph,  260. 

Mary  E.,  387. 
Holland,  Elizabeth,  386. 
Hollwell,  Henry,  11,  41,  43. 
Holt,  Daniel,  206,  260. 

Elizabeth,  207,  260. 

Enoch,  152. 

Henry,  260. 

Stephen,  260. 
Hooper,  George,  384. 

William,  203,  385. 
Hosmer,  Ann  M.,  387. 
Houatson  (see  Watson). 
Howells,  Rice,  10,  40,  46,  47. 

Hubbard. ,  85,  86. 

Huckins,  or  Huggins ,  286. 

Hannah,  192. 

James,  11,  12,  58,  66,  67,  87,  171,  193,  196, 
197.  225,  353. 

John,  16,  26,  28,  113,  193,  196,  197. 

Joseph,  24,  26. 

Joseph,  Jr.,  26. 

Mrs.,  87. 

Nathaniel,  114. 

Rachel,  54. 

Robert,  6,  20,  28,  87,  100,  102,  174,  178, 
197,  229,  242,  246. 

Thomas,  24,  26. 

Thomas,  Jr.,  26. 

William,  38,  197. 
Hucklie,  William,  11. 
Hudson,  Goodman,  76. 

John,  60,  80. 

Mary,  So. 

William,  34. 
Hull,  Benjamin,  11. 

Cyrus  G.,  IS4.  363,  365.  389. 

Fannie,  107. 

George,  150,  151,  152,  362,  364,  367. 

John,  129,  132. 

Joseph,  170. 

Lucy  A.,  107. 

Mary,  107,  386. 

Richard,  115,  126. 

Sarah,  382,  396. 
Humphrey,  Thomas,  10,  43,  45,  46,  77. 
Hunt,  Bartholomew,  6. 

Christopher,  392. 

Pierson,  392. 

Thomas,  126. 
Huntress,  James,  387. 

Mary,  379. 
Hurd,  Nahum,  390. 
Hussey,   Elizabeth,   260. 

Malenda,  386. 

Timothy,  242. 
Hutchins.  Jeremiah,  126. 


420 


INDEX   OF   NAMES 


Hutchins,  Samuel,  126,  200. 
Thomas,  Jr.,  126. 

Ingalls,  Charles,  264. 

Eliza,  207,  289,  389. 

Harriet,  288. 

Jedediah,  206,  280,  288,  34s. 
Irwin  (see  Erwin). 

Jackman,  Charles,  154. 
Jackson, ,  241,  349. 

Alvin,  334. 

Andrew,  151. 

Ann,  99,  102. 

Benjamin,  26,  126,  159. 

Bennan,  126. 

C.  Loyd,  349- 

Charlotte,  385. 

Eliza,  388. 

Elizabeth,  80. 

Enoch,   128,   130,  373- 

Hannah,  28,  97. 

James,  10,  16,  28,  80,  174. 178, 196, 197.  376. 

James,  Jr.,  28,  187. 

Jane,  80. 

John,  156. 

Joseph,  24,  28,  us,  196,  197- 

Laskey,  373- 

Lemuel,  128,  130. 

Martha,  386. 

Mary,  207. 

Mrs.,  102. 

Patience,  26. 

Robert,  395- 

Samuel,  20,  24,  126,  395- 

Thomas,  385. 

Thompson,  386. 

Walter,  10,  65,  66,  80,  82,  97,  99,  171. 

William,  14,  20,  28,  102,  103,  107.  130,  174. 
178,  229. 

William  W.,  216. 
Jacobs,  Daniel,  28. 

Daniel,  Jr.,  28. 
James,  Joseph  A.,  390. 

Thomas,  152. 
Jameson,  Patrick,  10,  68,  69,  80,  171,  219. 
Jefferson,  Thomas,  331. 
Jeffrey,  George,  83. 
Jenkins,  Ann,  91,  92. 

Anna  M.,  349. 

Benjamin,  in. 

Caroline,  260. 

Catherine,  383- 

Elizabeth,  396. 

Ephraim,  368. 

Evelyn,  332. 

Fred  E.,  341- 

Jabez,  91. 

John,  20,  56,  no. 

John,  Jr.,  392. 


Jenkins,  Joseph,  14,  64,  176,  180,  182,  195, 
223,  229,  387- 

Joseph,  Jr.,  223. 

Keziah,  148. 

Nathaniel,  124,  132,  373. 

Rebecca,  56. 

Reynolds,  81. 

Robert,  10,  66. 

Sarah,  167. 

Sarah  A.,  388. 

Silas,  160,  167,  349- 

Stephen,  20,  52,  55.  56,  91,  92,  102,  150, 
180,  182,  227. 

Stephen,  Jr.,  125. 

William,  20,  28,  III,  125,  367. 

William,  Jr.,  125. 
Jenness,  Charles  B.,  159. 

Elizabeth,  384. 

Solomon,  38s,  386. 

Stephen,  384. 
Jewell,  Bradbury,  201,  203,  373. 

Mark,  26. 
Jewett,  Noah,  201,  203,  241,  373. 
Johnson,  Abraham,  28. 

Andrew,  132. 

Benjamin,  124. 

David,  26. 

Dorothy,  391. 

Gideon,  391. 

Hannah,  392. 

John,  124,  125,  132,  379,  392,  393- 

John,  Jr.,  392.  • 

Johnson,  392. 

Joseph,   393- 

Josiah,  24,  391,  393. 

Mary,  393. 

Nathan,  393. 

Phebe,  392. 

Sarah,  381. 

Stephen,  176. 

Supply,  151. 

Thomas,  10,  26,  46,  47,  64,  66,  113. 

William,  11,  26,  58. 
Jones,  Abigail,   26. 

Anthony,  28,  197. 

Benjamin,  16,  26,  28,  126. 

Benjamin,  Jr.,   126. 

Charles  O.,  154- 

Charles  P.,  157- 

Ebenezer,  20,  22,  26,  126. 

Ebenezer,  Jr.,  24,  26,  126. 

Eliza  A.,  166. 

George,  126. 

Harriet  D.,  65. 

John,  16,  20,  126. 

John  P.,  152. 

John  Paul,  147. 

Joseph,  14,  is,  16,  20,  126.   174.   178,  239, 

230,  232,  365. 
Jones,  Joseph,  Jr.,  16,  18. 


INDEX    OF   NAMES 


421 


Jones,  Marianna,  166. 

Matthias,  126. 

Meribah,  387. 

Orrin,  166. 

Richard,  26,  28. 

Robert,  373- 

Robinson,  260. 

Samuel,  115,  166. 

Samuel  J.,  157,  160,  166. 

Stephen,  11,  12,  13,  14,  16,  18,  20,  22,  26, 
64,  6s,  69,  98,  99,  100,  103,  107,  118, 
128,  171,  172,  174,  178,  183,  189,  223, 
240,  249,  361,  364,  365,  373- 

Stephen,  Jr.,  20,  198. 

Thomas,  113,  204,  367. 

William,  6,  11,  157,  367. 

William  F.,  154,  364. 
Jordan,  Margaret,  381. 
Joy, ,  243. 

Abigail,  207. 

Charles,  154. 

Ebenezer,  152. 

Jacob,  130. 

James,  206,  282,  348,  367. 

James  F.,  282,  283,  348. 

Maria,  383. 

Robert  H.,  387 

Samuel,  111,  130,  203,  213,  233,  244,  373. 

Sarah,  282. 
Junkins,  Alexander,  81. 

Catherine,  81. 

Daniel,  81. 

Eleanor,  81. 

Robert,  8r. 

Sarah,  81. 

Keating,  Elizabeth,  396. 

Keith,  James,  184. 

Kelly,  Benjamin,  362,  363,  364,  367. 

Elizabeth,  387. 

John,  20. 

John  I.,  253. 

John  L.,  153. 

Joseph,  389. 

Lydia,  215. 

Mary  E.,  262. 

Patrick,  157. 
Kelsey,  George,  392. 

Hiram,  261. 

Hugh,  392. 

Jean,  392. 

Margaret,  392. 

Mary.  379- 

William,  392. 
Kelton,  George  F.,  262. 
Kemble,  Thomas,  71,  75. 
Keniston  or  Kenniston. 

David,  129,  132. 

Eleanor,  380. 

George  O.,   154.  157. 


Keniston,  Hannah,  379. 

John,  126,  260. 

Josiah,  126,  132. 

Lews,  124. 

Louisa  A.,  386. 

Lucia  A.,  260. 

Martha,  144. 

Mary,  260,  379. 

Nathan,  151,  216,  260,  396. 
Kennedy,   Michael,   157. 
Kenning,  Moses,  20. 
Kent,  Charles  A.,  157. 

Ebenezer,  38,  132,  154,  24s,  368. 

Elmer,  308. 

George  W.,  154. 

Hannah,  97. 

James  M.,  154. 

John,  20,  108,  no,  180,  182,  187,  233. 

John,  Jr.,   no,  187. 

Joseph,  ii,  13,  20,  38,  48,  96,  176,  180.  182, 

381. 

Lydia,  374. 

Mary  F.,  262. 

Oliver,  10,  38,  245. 

Richard,  40,  216,  373. 

Robert,  20,  no,  132,  180,  182. 
Keyes,  Philander,  158 
Kidd,  James,  79,  81. 
Kidder,  Nathaniel,  147. 

Samuel,  241. 
Kief,  Thomas,  382. 
Kimball,  Thomas,  71. 
Kincaid,  David,  72,  83,  104,  113,  174,  223,  230. 

Napthali,  20,  174,  180. 
Kingman,  Bela,  45. 

John  W.,  154,  157,  282. 
Knight,  Cara  W.,  213. 

Fred  T.,  213. 

George,  387. 

John,  373,  386. 

Joseph,  384. 

Richard,  Si. 

Samuel,  395. 
Knollys,  Hansard,  6,  169. 
Knowles,  Hansard,  6. 
Knowlton,  John,  381. 
Korest,  Christopher,  20. 
Kye,  Abigail,  81. 

James,  81. 

John,  81. 

John,  Jr.,  81. 

Sarah,  81. 

Ladbrook  Thomas,  34. 
Ladd,  Elias,  26. 
Ladderbush,  Lester,  244. 
Lafayette,  General,  278. 
Lahan,  Richard,  6. 
Lahorn,  Henry,  6. 
Laighton  (see  Leighton). 


422 


INDEX    OF    NAMES 


Lakin,  Daniel,  152. 

David,  260. 
Lamos,  Lomas  or  Lummocks. 

Deliverance,  104. 

Elizabeth,  104. 

James,  28,  111. 

Moses,  390. 

Nathaniel,  ir,  12,  28,  64,  104,  172,  227,  233. 

Polly.  386. 

Samuel,  127,  152,  384. 
Lamprey,  Maurice,  262. 
Lancaster,  Edward  M.,  154,  261,  262. 
Landeau,  Charles,  n. 
Lane,  Edmund  J.,  261. 

Hannah,  45. 

John,  45. 
Langdon,  John,  118. 
Langley,  Abigail,  260. 

Alfred,  260. 

Andrew,  260. 

Betsey,  381. 

Charles  F.,  154. 

Charles  S.,  328,  365. 

David,  132. 

Deborah,  260. 

Edward  I.,  48. 

Elizabeth,  381. 

George  E.,  157,  165. 

Gilman,  260. 

Hannah,  149. 

James,  20,  52,  176,  180,  184,  213,  228,  24s, 
260,  362,  364,  367. 

Jeremiah,  48,  95,  IS4.  245,  317,  318,  363, 
365,  368,  369. 

Job,  in. 

John,  no,  in,  233,  241,  260,  377. 

John  E.,  154. 

John  F.,  153,  157. 

John,  Jr.,  26. 

Jonathan,  114. 

Joseph,  113,  151,  374. 

Martha,  260. 

Mary,  245. 

Mary  A.,  260. 

Moses,  260. 

Moses  B.,  154,  157. 

Samuel,  24,  26,  126,  154,  204,  367. 

Sarah,  260,  381. 

Sophronia,  260. 

Thomas,  20,  no,  126,  230,  260. 

Thomas,  Jr.,  48. 

Warren,  384. 

William  D.,  154,  157. 

Valentine,  374. 
Langmaid,  Betsey,  384. 

Charles  A.,  155. 

Jacob  H.,  iss. 

Minot.  386. 

Samuel,  26,  126,  385. 

Susan,  384. 


Langmaid,  William  B.,  155,  368. 
Larigstaff,  Henry,  6. 
Lapish,  Benjamin  U.,  332. 
Comfort,  216. 
Robert,  130,  203,  21s.  241.  246,  252,  34s, 

366,  374. 
Robert,  Jr.,  374. 

William,  113. 
Larkham,  Thomas,  3,  6,  33,  35,  169. 
Laskey,  John,  21,  26,  no. 

William,  127. 
Layn,  John,  22,  126,  132,  146,  341,  345. 
Leader,  Richard,  75. 
Leary,  James,  20. 
Leathers, ,  240,  349. 

Abednego,  20,  26,  115.  190,  200,  349,  374. 

Abel,  113,  196. 

Benjamin,  28,  197,  374. 

Ebenezer,  24,  26. 

Edward,  11,  13,  14,  20,  26,  66,  67,  96,  98, 
102,  113,  126,  132,  171,  178. 

Edward,  Jr.,  26. 

Enoch,  132. 

Ezekiel,  20,  26,  166,  246,  260,  376. 

John,  124,  126,  132,  382. 

Jonathan,  26,  132,  386. 

Joseph,  166. 

Micajah,  384. 

Rebecca,  166. 

Robert,  26,  123,  132,  374. 

Robert,  Jr.,  204. 

Samuel,  374. 

Stephen,  26,  114. 

Thomas,  16,  21,  26,  28,  III,  114,  115,  132. 

William,  20,  68,  102,  174,  178. 
Lee,  Daniel,  212. 

Hannah,  335. 
Lees,  Thomas,  157. 
Legg,  Jeremiah  O.,  157- 
Leighton,  Laighton,  Layton. 

Abigail,  216. 

Ann,  148. 

Edmond  E.,  389. 

Gideon,  28,  114. 

Hannah,  28,  390. 

Hatevil,  125. 

Isaac,  28. 

James,  123,   130,   132,   147,  203,  216,  241, 
246,  346,  366,  374- 

John,  28,  113,  132. 

Joseph,  124,  125. 

Martha,  206. 

Rebecca,  166. 

Samuel,  28. 

Sarah,  148. 

Susan,  207. 

Thomas,  3,  6,  10,  62,  64,  223. 

Tobias,  123.  132,  147,  374- 

Valentine,  132,  148. 
Leverich,  William,  3,  169. 


INDEX  OF  NAMES 


423 


Le  Vigne  Clara,  211. 
Libbey,  Abigail,  379. 

Ephraim,  48. 

George,  151, 

Harriet,  207. 

Harriet  C„  388. 

John,  374,  396. 

Joseph,  28,  us,  197- 

Samuel,  386. 
Limber,  Thomas,  384. 
Lindsey,  James,  379. 
Little,  Hugh,  379: 

Janet,  280. 
Littlefield,  Elizabeth,  78. 
Livermore,  Edward  S.,  279. 

Samuel,  135. 
Livius,  Peter,  233. 
Lock,  Eliza,  388. 
Long,  George  W.,  15s,  157. 

James  H.,  155,  157. 

James  W.,  155. 

John,  155. 

Luke,  159. 

Michael,  158. 

Nicholas,  157,  158. 

Perry,  157. 

Pierce,  147,  148. 

Samuel  T.,  158. 
Lord,  Maria,  383. 

William,  no,  187. 
Lovering,  Johnson,  386. 

True  W.,  160. 
Lucas,  James,  155. 
Ludecas,  Mrs.,  82. 
Lyntard,  David,  178. 

Maccaboy,  James,  157. 
Mackdonel  (see  McDaniel). 
Magoon,  Angeline,  389. 

Henry,  82, 
Mallin,  Matthew,  132. 
Mallory,  James,  28. 

John,  28. 

John,  Jr.,  28. 
Maloy,  Dennis,  157. 
Maltin,  John,  157. 
Mann,  David,  152. 
March,  Captain,  92, 

Clement,  115. 
Marden,  Bartholomew,  115,  243. 
Marsh,  Hannah,  383. 

Henry,  14,  97,  no,  in. 

Hezekiah,  20,  187. 

Samuel,  382. 
Marshall,  John,  259. 

William,  388. 
Marston,  David,  383. 

Edward  A.,  304,  369. 

Levi,  377- 

Rebecca,  384. 


Marston,  Winthrop  A.,  278. 
Martin,  Archelaus,  252,  386. 
Daniel,  132,  252,  387. 
John,  10,  31,  32,  33. 
Robert,  382. 
Sidon,  382. 
Mason,  Edward,  152. 
Isaac,  20,  in,  187. 
John,  2,  3,  8,  11,  12,  20,  33,  44,  SI,  56,  in, 

187,  190. 
Lemuel  B.,  149. 
Mary,  150. 

Peter,  12,  20,  57,  90,  in,  174,  178,  223,  341. 
Robert,  149. 
Sarah,  57,  150. 
Susanna,  149. 
Mather,  Cotton,  88,  94,  184. 
Increase,  184. 

Mathes, ,  245. 

Abraham,  no,  113,  180,  182,  364,  367. 

Asa,  160. 

Benjamin,  n,  13,  37,  38,  57.  58,  67.  68,  69. 

91,  97,  108,  no,  113,  171,  176,  180,  182, 

193,  349,  362,  364,  366,  374. 
Benjamin,  Jr.,  206,  216. 
Burnham,  155. 
Caroline,  260. 
Charles,  E.  P.,  265. 
Charles  H.,  41. 
Clark,  15s,  245. 
Daniel,  159,  216,  239,  253,  349,  362,  364, 

367. 
Elizabeth,  216. 
Francis,  3,  5,  14,  17,  18,  20,  36,  37,  38,  41, 

44.  47.  SO,  Si.  65,  67,  68,  94,  97,  107.  108, 

118,  173,  176,  180,  182,  185,  186,  187,  214, 

228,  232,  234,  293,  361,  363.  364.  36S. 
Francis,  Jr.,  20,  176,  182. 
George,  242. 
George  P.,  264. 
Gershom,  113. 

Gideon,  24,  26,  lis,  126,  132. 
Hamilton  A.,  ISS,  299.  300,  327,  363,  365. 

368. 
Hannah,  200. 
Henry,  160. 
Jacob,  364,  368. 
James  M.,  265. 
John,  173,  299.  368. 
John  A.,  155. 
John  H.,  15s. 
John  M.,  iss. 
John  R.,  265. 

Mark  H.,  155,  312,  36s,  368. 
Pamelia,  299. 
Phebe,  200. 
Robert,  239,  364,  367. 
Robert  P.,  159,  216. 
Roy  W.,  265. 
Samuel,  126,  152. 


424 


INDEX    OF    NAMES 


Mathes,  Sarah,  216. 

Susan,  216. 

Thomas,  B.,  216. 

Thomasine,  9.  38,  51,  68. 

Valentine,  56,  no,  in,  118,  128,  129,  200, 
201,  203,  213,  233,  326,  327.  333.  36r,  362. 
363.  374- 

Valentine,  Jr.,  115, 

Walter,  171. 

Washington,  so,  94,  367. 
Matthews  (see  Mathes). 
Maud,  Daniel,  169,  257. 
McCoy,  John,  26. 
McCutchins,  Abigail,  391. 

Cunningham,  391. 

Elizabeth,  379. 

Federis,  391,  392. 

Jean,  392. 
McDaniel  (see  Daniel,  78). 

Agnes,  392. 

Alexander,  n,  82. 

Andrew  D.,  243,  364. 

Eleanor,  393. 

James,  132. 

Jasper  R.,  334.  363. 

John,  242,  243,  349.  368. 

Margaret,  391. 

Mary,  393- 

Mary  P..  386. 

Nehemiah,  391,  392,  393. 

Randall,  20. 

Robert,  20,  393. 

William,  393. 
McDermott,  F.  C,  157. 
McDonald,  Donald,  381. 

John,  157. 
McDonnell,  John,  157. 
McDuffee,  James,  384. 

William,  147. 
McHame,  Daniel,  196.  . 
Mclntire,  Micum,  78,  82. 
McKone,  Peter,  155. 
McNeal,  Joan,  384. 

Mary,  385. 
McWilliams,  Thomas,  157. 
Meader, ,  239,  243. 

Clark,  245. 

Daniel,  20,  28. 

Isaac,  374. 

James,  42. 

James  D.,  24s. 

John,  10,  12,  13,  20,  so,  60,  62,  69,  171,  176, 
180,  216,  233. 

John,  Jr.,  n,  14,  176. 

Joseph,  13,  14,  20,  24,  28,  69,  100,  102,  103, 
127,  176,  180,  227. 

Joseph,  Jr.,  180. 

Mary,  382. 

Moses,  112,  124,  125,  132. 

Nathaniel,  18,  20,  26,  53,  103,  no,  232. 


Meader,  Nicholas,  20,  126,  132,  176,  180,  223. 

Robert,  239. 

Samuel,  20,  in,  140. 

Sarah,  51. 

Stephen,  155,  368. 

Timothy,  118,  128,  215. 
Meder,  (see  Meader). 
Mellen,  Calvert  K.,  261,  265. 

Henry  B.,  157,  158,  276. 
Mendell,  George  H.,  373. 

Mary  B.,  373. 
Mendum,  John,  126,  158,  165. 
Meret  (see  DeMeritt). 
Merrill,  Dolly,  167. 
Merrow,  Henry,  84,  286. 

James,  84. 

Jane,  286. 

Samuel,  84,  286. 
Meserve,  Abigail,  316. 

Andrew  E.,  87,  368. 

Charles  R.,  389. 

Clement,  115. 

Clement,  Jr.,  115. 

Daniel,  28,  176,  180,  182,  223,  225. 

Daniel,  Jr.,  28,  115. 

Deborah,  146. 

Ebenezer,  115,  130,  374. 

Eliza,  207. 

John,  28. 

Jonathan,  115. 

Joseph,  28. 

Nancy,  389. 

Sarah  C,  383. 

Smith,  316. 

Timothy,  203,  374. 

Winthrop  S.,  67,   155,   213,   230,   238,   246, 
262,  316,  345.  363.  368. 
Messervey,  (see  Meserve). 
Mickmore,  John,  11. 
Middleton,  James,  10,  46,  82,  83. 
Mighell,  Bethula,  68. 

John,  57,  58,  59.  341- 
Miles,  John,  58. 

William,  379. 
Miller,  Joseph,  33. 

Samuel,  in,  144. 
Mills,  Joseph,  278. 

Maria,  396. 

Sarah,  278. 

William,  20. 
Mitchell,  Benjamin,  278. 

Charles  H.,  377. 

John,  133. 

Martha,  278. 

Stephen,  261,  278,  281,  349. 
Moe,  John,  379. 
Mondro,  Peter,  20. 
Moody,  John,  194. 

Joshua,  12. 
Mooney, ,  244. 


INDEX   OF   NAMES 


425 


Mooney,  Benjamin,  133,  143. 

Hercules,  22,  24,  133,  143,  148,  150,  196, 
244,  257,  366. 

Jeremiah,  203,  367. 

John,  133.  i43>  363,  367. 
Moore,  John,  20,  no. 

William  J.,  157. 
Moring,  Andrew  D.,  155,  157. 
Morrey,  James,  83. 

Morrill, ,  99. 

Morris,  Thomas,  n,  33,  35,  36,  97. 
Morrison,  James,  379,  392. 

James,  Jr.,  392. 

Joel,  383. 
Morse, ,  243. 

Mehitable,  207. 

Nancy,  382. 
Moses,  Howard,  308. 

Timothy,  16,  28,  115,  126,  178,  196,  197. 
Mosher,  Hannah  F.,  390. 

Samuel  E.,  216. 
Morton,  Charles,  157. 
Mounsell,  Thomas,  32. 
Muckmore,  John,  n. 
Munsey,  David,  24,  28,  127. 

John,  20,  178,  243. 

Jonathan,  232. 

Timothy,  126,  133. 
Munroe,  John,  374. 
Murdock,  Frances  J.,  279 

Thomas  J.,  279. 
Murkland,  Charles  S.,  267,  271,  349. 
Murphy,  Oliver,  387. 
Murray,  James,  83. 

Timothy,  234. 

Nanny,  Robert,  6. 
Narving,  Robert,  66. 
Nason,  Jonathan,  81. 

Mark  F.,  390. 

Sarah,  81. 
Neal,  John,  123,  133,  382. 

Joshua,  374- 
Neally,  Benjamin  F.,  388. 
Needham,  Nicholas,  35. 
Nelson,  James,  379. 
Nesbitt,  Arthur  F.,  213. 
Noble,  John,  133. 

Moses,  362,  363, 

Olive,  380. 

Stephen,  12s,  133,  377. 

Thomas,  24,  26,  126. 
Nock,  Anna,  380. 

Elizabeth,  230. 

Henry,  14. 

James,  83,  94,  105,  108,  174,  178,  184,  213, 
230. 

Patience,  379. 

Sarah,  83. 
Norton,  John,  133. 


Norton,  Nathaniel,  22,  118,  213,  233,  259,  366. 

Thomas,  133. 
Nudd,  Eliza  N.,  383. 

James,  260. 

Stephen,  260. 
Nudder,  Joseph,  182. 
Nute,  Albert  M.,  155. 

Andrew,  151. 

Augustus  P.,  155. 

Daniel,  123. 

Greenleaf,  363,  368. 

Isaac,  388. 

James,  3,  6. 

Marietta,  390. 

Moses,  384. 

Tamsen,  148. 
Nutter,  Christopher,  374. 

Hatevil,  3,  io,  31. 

Lemuel,  124,  374. 

Matthias,  374,  381. 

Samuel,  130,  396. 

Sarah,  150,  396. 

Sarah  A.,  388. 

Stephen  H.,  386. 

Tamsen,  382. 

William,  381. 

Odell,  Albert,  15s. 

Caroline  E.,  390. 

Jacob,  152,  34S.  362,  367. 

John,  206. 

Sarah,  261. 

William  A.,  264. 
Odiorne, — -,  240. 

Avis,  215. 

Hetty,  339. 

John  H.,  155,  389. 

William,  26,  215. 
Onderdonk,  Mrs.  Shirley,  269,  343. 
Ore,  James,  10,  60,  76,  77,  78. 
Osborn,  John,  200. 
Otis,  Albert,  N.  265. 

Richard,  169,  172. 

Roscoe,  244. 

Stephen,  28. 

Stephen,  Jr.,  28. 

Packer,  Captain,  95. 
Page,  Joseph,  390,  396. 

Joseph,  W.  332,  362,  367,  383. 

Mary  A.,  332,  386. 

Robert,  207. 
Palmer,  Asa  D.,  157,  166. 

Ezekiel,  157,  166. 

George  B.,  241. 

George  W.,  157,  166. 

Henry  S.,  157,  166. 

James  B.,  155. 

Joseph,  380. 

Joseph,  2d,  157,  166. 


426 


INDEX   OF   NAMES 


Palmer,  Timothy,  237. 

William,  385. 
Parker,  Mary  A.,  211. 

Riley  H.,  157,  160. 

Robert,  126. 
Parks,  Charles,  206,  260. 

Charles  H.,  386. 

Frederick,  260. 

George  L.,  397. 

Jane,  207,  260. 

John,  206,  395,  397. 

Mary  L.,  393. 

Sarah,  260. 

Timothy,  260. 
Parsons,  Anne,  144. 

Captain,  144. 

Charles  L.,  122,  334,  349. 

Ebenezer,  216. 

Ezra,  244. 

Hannah  J.,  390. 

John,  377- 

Mary  B.,  389. 

Moses,  278. 

Sarah,  216. 

William,  259. 
Patrick,  Betsey,  397- 
Patten,  Joseph,  384. 
Patterson,  Edward,  10,  60,  76^83. 
Paul,  Abigail,  382. 

Alfred,  155,  260. 

Caroline,  260. 

Charles  H.,  155. 

Howard,  260,  341. 

James,  167,  260,  341. 

Mary,  260. 

Sarah,  167. 

Stephen,  151,  155,  260. 

Susan,  260. 

Temperance  A.,  260. 

William  E.,  157,  167. 
Pearce,  Ann,  77. 

Elizabeth  B.,  390. 

John,  77- 

Mary,  384. 
Pearl,  John,  190. 
Pearley,  Sarah,  382, 
Peasley,  Jane,  99,  102. 
Peavey,  Hudson,  80. 
Peckham,  George  F.,  390. 
Pegg,  Black,  252. 
Pender,  Benjamin,  no. 
Pendergast, ,  244. 

Dennis,  374. 

Edmund,  201,  374. 

Edward,  114,  133. 

George  P.,  157,  164. 

Hannah,  216. 

James,  152. 

John,  374- 

Nathaniel  K.,  395. 


Pendergast,  Stephen,  233,  356. 

Timothy,  151. 
Pendexter,  Edward,  243. 

Thomas,  374. 
Pepperrell,  Mary,  294. 

William,  in,  342. 
Perkins,  Abraham,  206,  213,  241,   253,  345. 
348.  367. 

Edward  V.,  386. 

Elizabeth,  41. 

Joseph,  16,  108. 

Marcellus,  155. 

Samuel,  16,  20,  174. 

Thomas  H.,  155. 

Timothy,  197. 

William,  n,  12,  41,  171,  180,  374,  388. 
Perkinson,  William,  n,  12,  13,  171. 
Perry,  Abraham,  133. 

John,  113. 

Matthew,  20. 
Pettee,  Alvena,  265. 

Charles  H.,  213,  273,  274. 

Horace  J.,  265. 

Sarah  E.,  265. 
Peve,  Abel,  20. 
Philbrick,  Charles  W.,  157. 

Edgar  E.,  389. 

Fred,  369. 

Rufus,  390. 

Walter,  26. 
Phillips,  Benaiah,  397. 

John,  6. 

Wendell,  255. 
Phinney,  Edmund,  287. 

Phipps, ,  101. 

Pickering,  Calvin,  148,  386. 

Elizabeth,  387. 

Hannah  A.,  389. 

Harriet,  207,  385. 

John,  12. 

Lois,  148. 

Mary,  205. 

Mary  S.,  389. 

Rebecca,  207. 

Samuel,  245. 

Sarah,  282. 

Simeon,  24s,  396, 

Thomas,  118. 
Pierce,  Franklin,  332. 
Pike, ,  86,  102. 

James,  288. 

John,  36,  87,  88,  89,  103,  287. 

John  G.,  262,  288. 

Nathaniel,  288. 
Pillin,  John,  53,  54,  55. 
Pillsbury,  Parker,  255. 
Pinder  (Pender  and  Pinner). 

Benjamin,  20,  108,  no,  133,  176,  180,  182, 
187. 

Benjamin,  Jr.,  187. 


INDEX   OF   NAMES 


427 


Pinder,  Jeremiah,  no,  133,  374. 

John,  11,  14,  20,  35.  36,  97.  176,  180,  182. 

Thomas,  374. 

William,  374. 
Pinkham,  Abijah,  24,  54,  133,  24s,  374. 

Alfred,  260. 

Alphonso,  153.  157,  166. 

Amos,  28,  176,  227. 

Ballard,  349. 

Caroline,  260. 

Clarissa,  384. 

Daniel,  124,  151,  260. 

Eliza,  260. 

Fannie,  260. 

Friend,  240. 

Isaac,  133. 

James,  28.  Samuel,  384. 

John,  152. 


Pope,  Barnard,  171. 
Porter,  Augustus  B.,  284. 
Pray,  Thomas  T.  W.,  262. 
Prescott,  Benjamin,  157,  385. 

John  H.,  383- 
Presson,  Harvey,  151. 

James,  260. 
Priest,  Quick,  26. 
Prince,  George,  383. 

Joseph,  191,  192. 
Putnam,  John,  126. 
Putney,  Joseph,  385. 


Quimby,  John,  37. 
Quint,  Alonzo,  125,  169, 
Mary  J.,  389. 


Stephen,  383. 


John  H.,  157. 

Joshua,  157,  160,  166. 

Mary  A.,  385. 

Moses,  28. 

Nicholas,  387. 

Paul,  28,  133. 

Rachel,  54. 

Richard,  3,  6,  169,  386. 

Richard,  Jr.,  28. 

Samuel,  28. 

Sarah,  260. 

Solomon,  20,  28. 

Stephen,  28,  196,  260. 

Thomas,  128,  13-3.  203.  241,  280,  345,  374. 

Ursula,  287. 

William,  260. 
Piper,  Colonel,  149,  150. 
Pitman, ,  14,  244. 

Abigail,  382. 

Connor,  28. 

Deliverance,  100. 

Derry,  16,  196,  341. 

Ezekiel,  n,  56,  57,  90,  102. 

Francis,  n,  13,  14,  51,  52,  174. 

George,  374- 

Gideon  C,  216. 

John,  13,  20,  no. 

Joseph,  103,  126,  382. 

Joshua  M.,  262. 

Nathaniel,  100. 

Samuel,  24,  99. 

Sarah,  99. 

Thomas,  228. 

William,  10,  13,  51,  56,  57,  58,  59.  108,  171, 
176,  180,  223. 

Zachariah,  28,  196,  197. 
Polluck,  John,  133. 

Thomas,  124. 
Pomfret,  William,  3,  6,  9,  64. 
Pomrey,  Edward,  223. 
Poor,  Enoch,  123. 

Thomas,  149. 


Raines,  Thomas,  182. 

William,  20,  108,  182. 
Rand,  David,  123,  133,  151. 

Francis,  44. 

John,  11,  16,  43,  44,  45,  95,  96,  102, 
108,  133,  176,  180,  182. 

John,  Jr.,  44,  176. 

Miles,  366. 

Nathaniel,  44,  365. 

Preston,  Jr.,  261. 

Remembrance,  44,  95,  96,  102. 

Samuel,  96. 

Stephen,  155,  368. 
Randall,  Betsey,  384. 

Charles  D.,  158. 

Ebenezer,  24,  26,  126. 

Elizabeth,  216. 

Hezekiah,  115. 

Israel,  24. 

John,  20,  26,  no. 

Jonathan,  26,  114. 

Joseph,  114,  124,  130,  133. 

Mary,  26. 

Mason,  24,  26,  115. 

Miles,  20,  24,  26,  126,  233. 

Miss,  105. 

Nathaniel,  24,  182,  198,  223,  251. 

Samuel,  113. 

Simon,  28,  126. 

William,  20,  24,  26,  no,  113,  171,  190. 

William,  Jr.,  lis. 
Ransom,  Alonzo,  155,  332. 

Eleanor,  320. 

Eliza  B.,  320. 

George  W.,  261,  264,  329,  330. 

Reuben  M.,  155,  240. 

Ruth,  320. 
Rasle,  Sebastian,  108,  264,  329,  330. 
Redford,  William,  102. 
Reid,  Colonel,  148. 
Remich,  John,  16. 


428 


INDEX    OF   NAMES 


Remiss,  John,  16. 
Renely,  William,  24. 
Revere,  Paul,  118. 
Reyner,  John,  3. 
Reynolds  (see  Runnels). 

Abraham,  133. 

Charles  W.,  157,  158,  159. 

Job,  174- 

Stephen,  216. 
Rial,  Teague,  11. 
Rice,  Alexander,  279. 

Marcia  A.,  279. 

Sarah,  279. 
Richards,  Bartholomew,  133,  374. 
Richardson,  Augustus,  389. 

Frances,  279. 

Frances  J.,  279. 

George  F.,  159. 

Humphrey,  395. 

John  A.,  279,  298,  342,  362,  363,  366,  367. 

Joseph,  150,  201,  203,  241,  253,  279,  342, 
374- 

Lysander,  158,  159. 

Marcia  A.,  279. 

Miss,  262. 

Sarah,  207,  279,  386. 

Susanna,  387. 
Ricker,  Joseph,  158. 

Phebe  C,  385. 

Rebecca,  387. 

Sophia,  387. 
Riley,  Betsey,  387. 
Rines,  Henry,  176,  182. 

Hulda,  379. 

Joseph,  196. 

Rachel,  380. 

Thomas,  26,  108,  176,  180,  182. 
Ring,  John,  115. 
Roberts,  Abigail,  396. 

Alonzo,  383. 

Blake,  15s. 

Grace,  360. 

James,  290. 

John,  28,  196,  197. 

John  A.,  157. 

John,  Jr.,  115. 

Joseph,  28,  194. 

Samuel,  28. 

Thomas,  2,  4,  6,  31,  35. 

William,  10,  52,  56,  57,  60,  83,  85,  169. 

William,  Jr.,  85. 
Robie,  Henry,  12. 
Robinson,  David,  385. 

Levi,  380. 

Mary,  78. 

Nicholas,  381. 

Stephen,  11,  13. 

William,  388. 
Rogers,  Arthur,  279. 

Betsey,  381. 


Rogers,  Daniel,  59,  114,  128,  133,  189,  198, 
231.  34i- 

John,  157. 

Robert,  279. 
Rollins,  Bethiah,  380. 

Edward,  41,  245. 

Ichabod,  104. 

James,  6. 

John,  20,  34,  174,  178. 

Sarah,  376. 

Thomas,  26. 
Rooks,  Richard,  20. 
Root,  David,  253. 
Rose,  Roger,  11,  34. 
Rowe,  John,  196. 

Hezekiah,  385. 

Lazarus,  379. 
Rowell,  Captain,  148. 
Roy,  John,  79,  82. 
Royall,  Teague,  11,  171. 
Runlett,  Abigail  P.,  387. 

Charles,  127,  392. 

Daniel,  392. 

Eugene  P. ,  265. 

Harold,  M.,  265. 

Samuel,  216,  241,  259,  363,  368. 
Runnels  (or  Reynolds). 

Abraham,  26,  ill,  133. 

Enoch,  124,  126,  133. 

Israel,  133- 

Job,  18,  20,  24,  26,  127,  223. 

Job,  Jr.,  26,  44,  127,  174,  178,  198. 

John,  20,  no,  174,  178. 

Jonathan,  24,  26,  127. 

Moses,  127,  133. 

Samuel,  125,  133,  150. 

Solomon,  125,  133. 

Stephen,  133,  216. 

William,  26. 
Ryan,  James,  133. 

Joseph,  197. 

Michael,  133.  374- 

Patrick,  157,  159. 
Rynes,  Thomas,  108. 

Sanborn,  Anna,  380. 

Frank,  B.  n. 

John,  24,  127,  379. 

Josiah,  383. 

Mrs.  M.  A.,  90. 
Sanders,  Calvin,  363,  368. 

John  B.,  152,  155,  162. 
Sant,  John,  385. 
Saunders,  George,  157. 
Savage,  Henry  F.,  155. 

Mary  E.,  389. 

Samuel,  151. 

Sarah,  396. 

Sylvester,  155. 
Savory,  George  P.,  385. 


INDEX   OF   NAMES 


429 


Savory,  Nancy  A.,  385. 
Sawyer,  Abigail,  388. 

Gorham  H.,  334. 

Mary  J.,  290. 

Samuel,  124,  133. 
Sayer,  Samuel,  124. 
Seyward,  Henry,  77. 
Scales,  Edward,  24,  26,  127,  133,  149,  157. 

Hannah,  149. 

John,  360. 
Scammell,  Alexander,  116,  118,  122,  133  ,  138, 

140,  141,  143,  144. 
Scott,  Charles  F.,  265. 

Edward,  157. 

John  H.,  244. 
Scriggins,  Lucy  A.,  386. 

Winthrop,  397. 
Seabrook,  Mary,  45. 

Thomas,  45. 
Seaver,  Asa,  382. 
Seavey,  Anna,  384. 

Senter, ,  193. 

Sewell,  Oliver  D.,  211. 
Shackford,  Nancy,  387. 

S.  H.,  47,  57,  67,  172. 
Sharp,  Abigail,  376. 
Shaw,  Charles  S.,  389. 

Daniel,  125,  127,  133,  391. 

Elijah,  216. 

John,  24,  26,  391,  392. 

John,  Jr.,  24. 

John  S.,  362,  368. 

Joseph,  391. 

Margaret,  389. 

Samuel,  391. 

Susanna,  392. 

Thomas,  124. 
Sheafe,  Jacob,  252. 
Sheffield,  William,  62. 
Shepard  or  Shepherd. 

Elizabeth,  287. 

Ephraim,  127. 

Harriet  P.,  386. 

Jacob,  155,  216. 

Jerusha,  379. 

John,  125,  157. 

Margaret,  287. 

Samuel,  287. 

Samuel,  Jr.,  287. 

Ursula,  287. 

William,  21,  no,  381. 
Sherburne,  Eliza,  383. 

Henry,  57. 

John,  384,  387- 

Mary  A.,  386. 

Samuel,  86,  386. 
Sherman,  Edward,  389. 
Shirley,  Governor,  112. 
Short,  Matthew,  180. 
Shute,  Andrew  B.,  384. 


Shute,  Samuel,  109,  172. 
Sias,  Benjamin,  133. 

Clement,  21. 

John,  21,  124,  127,  133,  174.  178,  229. 

John,  Jr.,  20. 

Joseph,  21,  22,  23,  24,  26,  113,  127,  198,  361 , 
366. 

Nathaniel,  24,  26,  152. 

Samuel,  20,  24,  26. 

Samuel,  Jr.,  26. 

Solomon,  20,  24,  26. 
Silver,  Doctor,  289. 
Simmons,  John,  n. 

Joseph,  21,  230. 

Michael,  n. 
Simons,  Elizabeth,  230. 

Joseph,  230. 
Simpson,  Andrew,  150,  203,  215,  362. 

Andrew  L.,  215,  246,  247,  364. 

Anne,  380. 

Etta  L.,  265. 

Jonathan,  174. 

Joseph,  380. 

Lydia,  215,  276. 

William,  377,  382. 
Sinclair,  Micajah,  388. 
Skidd,  James,  62. 
Sleeper,  John,  46. 
Small,  Benjamin,  26,  122,  125,  133. 

Benjamin,  Jr.,  26. 

Edward,  n,  12,  26,  99,  221,  234. 

Hannah,  200. 

Harriet,  389. 

Isaac,  24,  26,  122,  127,  133. 

James  R.,  157. 

Joseph,  26,  223. 

Joseph,  Jr.,  26. 

Mary,  99,  221. 

Sarah,  99. 
Smart,  Albert  M.,  307. 

Amos,  M.,  153,  155,  157.  167. 

Annie,  76. 

Bartholomew,  24,  376. 

Charles  A.,  307,  365,  369. 

Charles  H.,  155. 

Clarence  I.,  53,  166,  245. 

Cora  E.,  166. 

Elizabeth,  48. 

Enoch,  167. 

Hannah,  167. 

James,  152. 

James  G.,  369. 

James  M.,54,  155,  164.  213,  216,  364.  368. 

John,  23,  24,  48,  155,  187,  233,  376,  380,  383. 

Joseph,  21. 

Lois,  216. 

Mary  E.,  305. 

Olive,  216. 

Robert,  7,  8,  35,  76. 

Robert,  Jr.,  n. 


430 


INDEX   OF   NAMES 


Smart,  Samuel,  385. 
William,  124,  133. 

Smith, ,  147. 

Alfred,  150,  152,  363,  368. 

Alice.  380. 

Alice  H.,  269,  309- 

Andrew  G.,  363,  367. 

Ann,  166. 

Archabel,  21. 

Ballard,  109. 

Bartholomew,  6,  52. 

Benjamin,    21,  22,  23,  no,  129,  133,  191, 

198,  200,  203,  204,  223,  361,   365,   366, 

375 
Calista  L.,  388. 
Cyrus  G.,  368. 
Cora,  166. 
Daniel,  157.  158,  162,  163,  229,  357,  362, 

363.  367,  368. 
Duke,  252,  253. 
Ebenezer,  no,  201,  20s,  213,  231 ,  233,  241, 

277,  278,  279,  295,  34s,  347,  362,  364,  36s, 

366,  375,  384. 
Edward,  133,  233. 
Elizabeth,  79,  90,  191,  349. 
Forrest  S.,  240,  318,  319,  357,  358. 
George,  5,  38,  157.  386,  387. 
George  F.,  395. 
Hamilton,  206,  242,  262,  264,  269,  276,  280, 

288,  309,  310,  332,  343.  344- 
Henry,  205,  264. 
Jacob  S.  264. 
James,  n,  13,  21,  58,  60,  77,  88,  90,  no, 

in,  113,  157,  171,  246,  251,  341,  366. 
James,  Mrs.,  90,  102. 
John,  11,  14,  21,  28,  34.  35.  36,  59,  60,  73. 

80,  81,  89,  90,  94,  107,  109,  113,  133,  140, 

152,  171, 174,  176,  178,  197,  223,  228,230, 

233,  234.  251.  252,  257,  341.  356,  363,  364. 

365.366,375,377.  382. 
John,  Jr.,    14,    18,   21,   80,    172,   176,  230, 

375. 
John,  3d.,  21,  no,  118,  122,  129,  130,  142, 

203,  213,  294,  377. 
John  S.,  155,  216,  263. 
Joseph,  11,  14,  34,  35,  48,  55.  60,  62,  64,  66, 

67,  100,  103,  107,  in,  124,  133,  155,  227, 

240,  285,  319,  363,  364.  366,  375- 
Joshua  B.,  146,  155,  262,  276,  315.  316,  343. 

345.  349,  363.  364.  36S.  368,  369. 
Leonard,  389. 
Leonard  B.,  364.  • 
Louise  S.,  334. 
Margaret,  295. 
Mary,  143,  166. 
Mary  A.,  289. 
Mary  B.,  343. 

Mary  E..  276,  315,  343,  345- 
Mehitable,  345. 
Nancy,  388. 


Smith,  Robert,  375. 

Samuel,  18,  21,  58,  59,  90,  no,  112,  124, 
127,  176, 182,  214,  230,  232,  233,  234,  285. 
361,  363,  364,  365,  366. 

Samuel,  Jr.,  21. 

Samuel,  3d,  21. 

Samuel  E.,  153,  157,  166. 

Sarah,  341,  381. 

Sarah  A.,  319. 

Sherburne,  387. 

Stephen  P.,  386. 

Valentine,  206,  230,  244,  251,  261,  296,  309, 
315,  339.  345.  346,  363,  364,  367. 

Warren,  35,  368. 

William,  79,  81,  151,  201,  203,  363. 

William  B.,  264. 

Winthrop,  162,  357,  362,  364,  367,  368. 
Smythe,  George,  5,  38. 
Snell,  Abraham  B.,  386. 

John,  24,  26,  127. 

Nathaniel,  386. 

Paul,  386. 

Samuel,  115. 

Samuel,  Jr.,  127. 

Sarah  H.,  384. 

Susan,  386. 

Thomas,  24. 
Snow,  Pamelia,  387. 
Speed,  John,  158. 
Spencer,  Abednego,  26,  28,  128,  133,  375- 

Ebenezer,  21,  122. 

Jane,  390. 

John,  133,  375. 

Levi,  375- 

Moses,  133. 

Robert,  133. 
Spinney,  Betty,  393. 

Deborah,  388. 

Mark,  393. 

William,  259,  375. 
Squire,  Bernard,  40. 

Margaret,  40. 
Stacpole,  Catherine,  81. 

James,  81. 

Margaret,  81. 
Stacy,  Ann  E.,  321. 

Robert,  385. 

Samuel,  151. 
Staples,  Palnia,  388. 
Starbird,  Angeline  P.,  166. 

Caroline,  148. 

George,  166. 

James  W.,  157,  166. 

John,  123,  125,  148,  149.  166,  375.  396. 

John,  Jr.,  149. 

Lois,  148. 

Martha,  166. 

Mary,  166. 

Olive,  148,  166. 

Rebecca,  148,  396. 


INDEX   OF   NAMES 


431 


Starbird,  Samuel,  148,  397. 

Sarah,  148. 

Stephen,  148,  152,  382. 
Starbuck,  Edward,  6. 
Starr,  Edward,  6. 
Stearns,  Susan  C,  389. 
Steele,  David,  280,  281. 

Janet,  280. 

Jonathan,  203,  204,  241,  246,  278,  280,  281, 
288,  34s,  362,  364,  367,  375. 

Margery,  282. 

Martha,  278. 

Richard,  253,  264,  288,  362. 
Stephens,  Benjamin,  375. 

Cornelius,  375. 
Stevens,  Andrew,  204. 

Andrew  J.,  157. 

Anne,  204. 

Benjamin,  21,  375. 

Betsey,  397. 

Cornelius,  375. 

Darius,  155. 

David,  155,  335- 

David  A.,  155,  160,  368. 

Elizabeth,  204. 

Federal  B.,  155. 

George  D.,  334,  335,  363. 

Gertrude  I.,  335. 

Hannah,  335. 

Hubbard,  16,  21,  26,  213,  349,  361. 

Hubbard,  Jr.,  26. 

Jabez  H.,  365,  368,  369. 

James,  21,  158,  168,  242. 

John,  133,  203,  204,  375. 

Jonathan,  24,  127. 

Jonathan,  Jr.,  24. 

Joseph,  26,  118,  128,  129, 130,  300,  233,  234  . 

Louise  E.,  335. 

Marjorie  P.,  335- 

Martha  A.,  153,  242.   ' 

Nathaniel,  24,  127,  133,  155,  368. 

Nathaniel,  Jr.,  24,  155. 

Parker,  Jr.,  155. 

Samuel,  127,  153,  157,  204,  242. 

Samuel  I.,  26. 

Stephen,  127. 

William,  127. 
Stevenson  and  Stephenson,  243,  245. 

Abraham,  21,  no,  180,  182,  187. 

Bartholomew,  n,  68,  69,  70,  71,  92,  102, 
104,  176,  182,  223,  225,  228,  229,  34L  395- 

John,  241,  375. 

Joseph,  11,  26,  92,  102,  no,  171,  176,  180, 
182,  187. 

Nathaniel,  387. 

Richard,  386. 

Thomas,  3,  9,  18,  21,  47,  49,  52,  53,  60,  83, 
92,  102,  108,  no,  225,  232,  233. 
Stewart,  Horace  M. ,  157. 

Robert,  77. 


Stillings,  Peter,  125. 
Stimson  (see  Stevenson). 

Alfred,  157. 

Bartholomew,  39s. 

Curtis,  157. 

Joseph,  171. 

William,  158. 
Storer,  William,  3,  6,  64. 
Straw,  Jane,  387. 
Strunk,  Isaac,  171. 
Sullivan,  Ann,  389. 

Daniel,  155. 

Ebenezer,  122. 

George,  152,  264,  281. 

Humphrey,  58. 

James,  264,  337,  339. 

John,  57,  60,  116,  117,  118,  119,  121,  122, 
130,  133,  134.  135.  137,  138,  140, 141.  143. 
144,  145,  146,  150,  152,  155,  220,  232.  245, 
246,  252,  261,  264,  277,  279,  280,  282,  286, 
337,  338,  339,  361,  362,  364,  375- 

Lydia,  280. 

Lynde,  137,  337,  339- 

Margery,  135,  282. 

Mary,  331. 
Swaddon,  Philip,  6. 
Swain,  Elizabeth,  386. 

Razar,  377. 
Swayen,  Jeremiah,  87. 
Swett,  Hannah,  286. 

Moses,  286. 

Sarah,  286. 

Stephen,  114,  286. 

William,  287. 
Sylvester,  William  P.,  288. 
Symson,  Henry,  47. 

Taisne,  Augustin  A.,  211. 

Clara  L.,  211. 

Telesphore,  212,  213. 
Talbot, ,  308. 

Henry  L.,  208,  349. 
Tash,  Anna  P.,  144. 

Betsey,  144. 

Jacob,  143,  144,  187. 

James,  144. 

Martha,  144. 

Mary,  144. 

Oxford,  251. 

Patience,  143,  144. 

Thomas,  in,  133,  143,  144,  146,   147,   150, 
233,  251. 

William,  144. 
Tasker, ,  94. 

Ebenezer,  24,  197. 

John,  16,  28,  108,  196,  197,  233. 

John,  Jr.,  26,  28,  197. 

Samuel,  103,  in. 

William,  11,  14,  28,  100. 
Taylor,  Daniel,  152,395. 


432 


INDEX   OF   NAMES 


Taylor,  Eliza  B.,  320. 

John,  76,  81. 

Nathan,  379. 

Phebe,  385. 

Thomas,  375. 

William,  388. 
Teague,  Caroline,  148,  207. 
Tedder,  Stephen,  6. 
Tego,  Ira,  260. 

John,  260. 

Maria,  261. 

William,  389,  397. 
Thing,  Bartholomew,  194. 

Hannah,  309. 

Mary,  194. 
Thomas,  Abigail,  200. 

Benjamin,  223. 

Bradbury,  152. 

Elizabeth,  78. 

James,  11,  14,  28,  78, 123,  129,  133, 143,171, 
176,  178,375- 

Joseph,  18,  2i,  no,  113,  133,  232,  361,  364, 
365,  366,  375. 

Joseph,  Jr.,  151,  375. 

Mary,  143. 

Patience,  143. 

Stephen  J.,  123,  133. 

Thomas,  234. 
Thompson,  Abigail,  251. 

Ada  M.,  264. 

Alexander,  83. 

Andrew  B.,  155. 

Ann,  201. 

Benjamin  (son  of  Judge  E.),  203,  241,  298, 
3io,  33r,  334.  339.  347.  375- 

Benjamin  (son  of  Benjamin),  260,  264,  265, 
275,  284,  297,  298,  299,  334.  347- 

Charles  A.  C,  155.  337- 

Charlotte  A.,  275. 

Clark  D.,  367. 

Daniel  G.,  155. 

David,  2. 

Ebenezer  (Judge),  21,  26,  55,  116,  118,  121, 
122,  128,  129,  201,  203,  234,  238,  242,  286, 
288,  295,  296,  298,  299,  301,  356,  362.  363, 
364,  366,  375. 

Ebenezer  (son  of  Judge),  203,  241,  375. 

Ebenezer  (son  of  above),  337,  364. 

Ebenezer  (son  of  Benj.)  301,  367. 

Ebenezer  (son  of  above),  155,  310,  311,  368. 

Edmund,  201,  203,  375, 

George,  83. 

George  E.,  264. 

George  W.,  253,  386. 

Jacob  B.,  368. 

James,  113,  124,  133,  149,  384. 

Jane,  301. 

John,  n,  21,  26,  70,  113,  128,  129,  130,  172, 
174,  178,  181,  213,  236,  242,  243,  264,  281, 
303.  375- 


104,  114, 
347.354. 


105.  199, 
302,320, 


Thompson,  John  E.,  213,  221,  222,  262,  302 
303.  304,  319.  368. 

John  W.  E.,  155,  242,  363,  365. 

Jonathan,  18,  21,  26,  108,  127,  191,  213,  214 
230,  293.  303.  361,  364,  365.  375- 

Joseph,  24. 

Levi,  152. 

Lucien  (.Frontispiece),  45,  71,  99, 
156,  168,  242,  319,  320,  334,  336 
355.  357.  363.  365,  375- 

Mary'.  149,  207. 

Mary  P.,  16,  48,  49,  86,  88,  101, 
219,  237,  253,  259,  262,  296,  301 
334.  345.  347,  35L  357- 

Nathaniel,  26. 

Nathaniel  E.,  368. 

Robert,  22,  26,  72,  104,  107,  127,  174,  178 
229,  242,  251,  366. 

Robert,  Jr.,  26. 

Ruth  E.,  265. 

Samuel,  113,  125,  133,  149,  251,  375- 

Samuel  W.,  155. 

Sarah,  26,  71. 

Sarah  A.,  319. 

Seth,  26. 

Solomon,  26. 

Stephen  M.,  127,  157,  163. 

Thomas,  124,  133,  375. 

Tolman,  127. 

True  W.,  155. 

William,  83. 

William  J.,  382. 
Thorndike,  John  L.,  383. 
Thurston,  Eugene,  349. 
Tibbetts,  Daniel,  28. 

Ephraim,  123. 

Henry.  3,  28,  196. 

Ichabod,  379. 

Jeremiah,  28. 

Jolin,  384,  385- 

Lydia,  386. 

Martha,  379. 

Mary.  384. 

Nathaniel,  28,  103,  197. 

Thomas,  225,  228. 
Tilley,  Sedeny,  380. 
Tilton,  Jacob,  388. 

Tobey,  Alvan,  122,  207,  208,  214,  253,  254 
339,  349. 

Charles  E.,  152. 
Tobnie,  Patrick,  133. 
Todd,  John,  82. 
Tompson,    Thomson,    Tomson    (see   Thomp 

son). 
Torr,  Joseph  J.,  367. 

Mary.  383.  385- 

Vincent,  125,  133,  149. 
Towle,  Elisha,  380. 
Townsend,  Ebenezer,  380. 
Treadwell,  Frances  P.,  342. 


INDEX   OF   NAMES 


433 


Trickey,  Abigail,  392. 

Benjamin,  387. 

Clarissa  A.,  383. 

Elizabeth,  393. 

John  F.,  155. 

Joshua,  392,  393. 

Martha,  392. 

Samuel,  392. 
Tripp,  Benjamin,  37s,  380. 

William  H.,  386. 
Trowbridge,  Sarah,  307. 
Tucker,  Henry,  37s. 

James,  389. 

Sophronia  R.,  389. 

Stephen  B.,  133. 
Tufts,  Henry,  24,  127,  133. 

Henry,  Jr.,  127. 

Samuel  B.,  155. 

Thomas,  127. 

Willard  C,  155,  217. 
Turner,  Abigail,  382. 

Ann,  385. 
Tuttle,  Abigail,  397. 

Alexander,  386. 

Alice,  397- 

Andrew,  J.  S.,  157,  165. 

Ann,  148,  149. 

Benjamin,  152. 

Charles  H.,  155. 

Elizabeth,  165. 

Freeman  H.,  157,  164. 

George,  24,  115,  127.  133.  ISO,  234. 

Herbert,  244. 

Isaac,  124,  133. 

James  H.,  158,  165. 

John,  3,  70,  219,  227,  228. 

John,  Jr.,  213. 

John  L.,  164. 

Levi,  395. 

Michael  B„  386. 

Miles,  386. 

Mrs.,  395- 

Nathaniel,  387. 

Nicholas,  24,  124,  127,  133. 

Oliver,  385,  387. 

Prudence  I.,  383. 

Sarah,  384. 

Sarah  A.,  382. 

Stoughton,  24. 

Thomas,  127. 

Tobias,  396. 

William,  Jr.,  155,  160. 
Tuxbury,  Daniel,  386. 
Twombly,  ,  240. 


Twombly,  Joseph,  28,  196,  197. 
Reuben  H.,  155. 
Stephen,  152. 
William,  196. 
William,  Jr.,  197. 
William  3d.,  28. 
Wingate,  386. 

Ugroufe,  John,  6. 
Underhill,  John,  3,  6. 
Underwood,  Emily,  385. 

James,  122,  125,  133,  281,  282. 

John,  133. 
Urnback,  Adam,  158. 

Valley,  Franklin,   158. 
Varney,  Andrew,  383. 

Esther,  150. 

Mercy,  150. 

Moses,  113. 

Oliver,  386. 
Vaughan,  George,  173,  176. 

Major,  89. 
Veasey,  George,  79,  83. 
Venner,  James  M.,   158. 
Verner,  Thomas,  385. 
Vibbert,  Luke  R.,  158. 
Vincent,  Anthony,  381. 

Thankful  H.,  389. 
Vines,  Henry,  14. 

Wakeham,  Caleb,  52,  no. 

Edward,  14,  51,  52,  176,  180,  182. 

Sarah,  51. 

William,  21. 
Waldron,  Elizabeth,  286. 

George,  287. 

James,  81. 

Plato,  387. 

Richard,  6,  17,  86,  I 

William,  6. 
Walker, ,  246. 


109,  150,  169,  249. 


Aaron,  396. 
Ann,  383. 
Elizabeth,  387. 
■  Isaac,  28,  196,  197.  J* 
John,  384. 
John  R.,  153. 


-m4^ 


Charles  W.,  156. 

Daniel,  158. 

James  F.,  158. 

Mark  W.,  260. 

Nehemiah,  184. 

Seth  S.,  294,  362,  367. 

Thomas  H.,   158. 

William,  216. 
Walles,  Jane,  84. 

Samuel,  380. 
Wallingford,  Samuel,  150. 
Wallis,  Jane,  286. 
Walton,  George,  3. 

Jacob,  397- 
.Vr>*  Jean-  392. 
L3v£"Mary'391- 

Molly,  391. 

Sarah,  391. 


434 


INDEX    OF   KAMI'S 


Walton,  Shadrach,  26,  391. 
Ward,  Samuel,  113. 
Warner,  Daniel,  41,  59,  298. 

Jonathan,  236. 
Warren,  James,  81. 

Margaret,  81. 
Washington,  George,  137,  141,  146,  287 
Wastill,  John,  6. 
Waterhouse,  Benjamin,  384. 

Isaac,  2 1 6. 
Waters,  Elizabeth,  380. 
Watson;  Andrew,  24,  127. 
David  A.,  265. 
David  W.,  240. 
Dorothy,  392. 
Ellison,  127. 
Hannah,  66,  102. 
Henry,  376. 
Jacob  K.,  151. 
James,  24,  127. 
John,  155. 

Joseph,  98,  102,  127. 
Lucia  A.,  265. 
Mary,  98,  392. 
Mehitable,  392. 
Myles  S.,  265. 
Nathaniel,  24,  187. 
Robert,  11,  13,  66,  98,  102,  171. 
Samuel,  24,  in,  392. 
Sarah,  391. 
Shadrach,  391. 
Sophia,  386. 
Waymouth,  Deborah,  392. 
Dennet,  28. 
Moses,  28,  392. 
Samuel,  107. 
William,  24,  127. 
Weare,  Nathaniel,  12. 
Webb,  George,  3,  6,  9,  38,  39. 
Webber,  Mary,  379. 

Samuel,  81. 
Webster,  Annie,  68. 
John,  68. 
Reuben,  377. 
Wedgwood,  Willet,  152. 
Weeks,  Jedediah,  153. 

William,  Jr.,  386. 
Welch,  Benjamin,  133. 
John,  21,  113,  128,  376. 
Sarah,  380. 
Wells,  Edward,  204,  282,  331. 
John  S.,  282,  332. 
Joseph,  331. 
Margery,  282,  331. 
Samuel,  331. 
Wentworth,  Abigail  F.,  382. 
Annie  E.,  331. 
Benning,  23. 

Charles,  331.  332,  363,  36s 
Charles  H.,  331. 


Wentworth,  Evelyn,  332. 
Governor,  118. 
John,  15. 
John  2d.,  383. 
John  N.,  155. 
Olive,  387. 
Phineas,  387. 
Sarah,  385. 
Valerie,  332. 
William,  169,  331. 
Whedon,  Jane,  95. 
Wheeler,  Abigail,  41. 
Benjamin,  41,  213. 
Elizabeth,  41. 
John,  41,  42,  104. 
Joseph,  21,39,40,  41,  187,  191,  198,  213, 

230,  232,  233,  234,  365,  366. 
Sarah,  199. 
Wheelwright,  John  6. 
Whidden,  Ichabod,  127. 

Temperance,  380. 
Whipple.  Hannah,  383. 
Whitcher,  George  H.,  168,  369. 
Whitcomb,  Major,   149. 

Thomas,  27. 
White,  James,  133,  158. 
Joseph,  242. 
Nathaniel,  380. 
Whitefield,  George  191.  345. 
Whitehorn,  Alonzo  L.,  155. 
Anne,  381. 
Charles,  217. 
Charles  H.,  155. 
John,  28. 
John  S.,  385. 
Whitehouse,  Love,  216. 
Moses,  391. 
Nancy,  385. 

Pomfret,  187,  379,  391,  392. 
Whitlock,  Mary,  46. 
Whitmore,  Sarah,  386. 
Whitten,  Joseph,  379. 

Mark,  133. 
Wiggin,  Andrew,  17. 
Charles  E.,  156. 
David,  225,  243. 
Drusilla,  216. 
Eliphalet,  130. 
Elizabeth,  397. 
George,  260. 
George  J.,  364,  367. 
George  T.,  155,  264. 
Hertry,  152. 
Issachar,  376. 
James,  260. 
John,  127,  260. 
Joshua,  115. 
Lydia,  261. 
Lydia  A.,  385. 
Moses,  208,  244,  308,  364,  367. 


INDEX   OF   NAMES 


435 


Wiggin,  Nathaniel  P.,  156. 

Rufus,  381. 

Sarah,  384. 

Thomas,  2,  3.  4.  5.  55- 

William,  151,  156,  213,  260,  363,  367,  368. 

Winthrop,  124. 
Wigglesworth,  James  L.,  156. 

Mary,  287. 

Samuel,  118,  128,  133,  287. 
Wilkinson,  Rufus,  385. 
Willard,  Abigail,  388. 
Willey,  Abigail,  95,  102,  387. 

Benjamin,  196,  197,  376. 

Charity,  207. 

Charles  H.,  156. 

Comfort,  385. 

Daniel,  151. 

Elizabeth,  95,  102. 

Ezekiel,  124,  127,  133. 

Hannah,  381. 

Harriet,  260,  389. 

Henry.  158,  260. 

Ira,  156,  260. 

Ivory  H.,  54. 

Jacob,  260. 

James,  158,  260,  376. 

James,  Jr.,  151. 

James  W.,  158. 

Jeremiah,  376. 

Jeremiah,  Jr.,  381. 

John,  11,  14,  21,  91,  102,  in,  151,  176,  180, 
228. 

John,  Jr.,  21,  176,  180,  230,  231. 

John,  3d.,  21. 

Jonas  M.,  158. 

Judith,  95,  102. 

Lucy  A.,  389. 

Margaret,  48,  52. 

Mark,  151,  164,  364. 

Mark  E.,  156. 

Mary,  261,  377,  381. 

Mehitable,  261. 

Molly,  396. 

Noah,  151. 

Paul,  27. 

Phineas,  151,  396. 

Robert,  123,  133,  151,  196,  252,  376,  395. 

Rufus,  150. 

Samuel,  27,  108,  no,  127,  176,  178,  180, 
187.  198,  381,  396,  397- 

Sarah,    148,   387. 

Stephen,  n,  13,  21,48,  no,  114, 127, 151,187. 

Stephen,  Jr.,  114,  115,  233. 

Susannah,  261. 

Theodore,  no,  in,  376,  395,  396. 

Thomas,  9,  14,  24,  27,  39.  40,  41,  42,  48, 
49,  50,  52,  59.  in,  121,  127,  133,  171, 
174.  178,  196,  229,  376,  382. 

Thomas,  Jr.,  16,  48. 

Valentine,  376,  381. 


Willey,  William,  21,  in,  180. 

Zebulon,  127. 

Zekiel,  127. 
Williams,  Agnes,  53. 

Ann,  92. 

Avis,  386. 

Christian,  89. 

George,  158. 

John,  14,  18,  21,  27,  107,  115,  124,  127, 
133.  176,  180,  182,  185,  213,  223,  229, 
230,  36s,  387. 

John,  Jr.,  21,  27,  182. 

Jonathan,  125,  130,  133,  375. 

Joseph,  27,  133- 

Lewis,  89. 

Loisa,  386. 

Mary,  55. 

Matthew,  10,  51,  62,  64,  83,  171,  227. 

Samuel,  21,  108,  133,  149,  176,  180,  182. 

Sobriety,  149. 

Thomas,  14. 

William,  3,  10,  14,  53,  54,  55.56,91.  169,  227. 

William,  Jr.,  11,  64. 
Wilson,  Levi,  389. 

Margaret,  78. 

Samuel,  78. 

Susan  R.,  247,  261. 
Wingate,  John,  197,  219. 

John,  Jr.,  28. 

Joshua,  146,  147,  282. 
Winkley,  Ann,  383. 

John,  204. 
Winslow,  Edward,   128. 
Wirt,  William,  280. 
Wiswall,  Hannah,  309. 

Noah,  88. 

Sarah,  307. 
>'  Thomas,  307. 

Thomas  H.,  307,  308,  309,  363. 

Woodbury, ,  191. 

Woodhouse,  Doctor,  289. 

John,  397. 
Woodlock,  Deborah,  382. 
Woodman,  Archelaus,  21,  26,  128.  133,  150. 

Benjamin,  24. 

Charles,  382. 

Charles  F.,  368. 

Daniel,  252,  386. 

Daniel  A.,  156. 

Daniel  T.,  144,  368,  369. 

Edward,  21,  26,  127,  233. 

Edward,  Jr.,  133. 

Elizabeth,  221,  385. 

George,  151. 

Jacob,  241,  376. 

John,  10,  12,  13,  14,  16,  18,  21,  22,  26,  66, 
67,  69,  71.  72,  73,  92,  99,  100,  101,  103, 
104,  171,  189,  193,  219,  225,  230,  232, 
242,  247,  252,  291,  292,  351,  352,  353.  361, 
364,  365. 


436 


INDEX  OF  NAMES 


Woodman,  John,  Jr.,  12. 

John  S.,  242,  261,  264,  282,  298,  343.  363. 

Jonathan,  12,  21,  26,  68,  73.  99.  107.  121, 
128,  172, 174.  178,  221,  225.  342,  366,  367, 
375- 

Jonathan,  Jr.,  21,  26, 128,  201,  203,  241,  375- 

Jonathan,  3d.,  118,  128,  129,  130. 

Joseph,  28,  no. 

Joshua,  11,  127,  133.  232,  233. 

Joshua,  Jr.,  24,  26. 

Lemuel,  242,  376. 

Margery  S.,  320. 

Mary,  99,  221. 

Moses,  152. 

Moses  G.,  243,  368. 

Nathan,  152. 

Samuel,  127. 

Sarah,  71. 

Sarah  J.,  309. 

William,  156. 
Woods,  James,  387. 

Wooster,  ,  193- 

Wormwood,  Jacob,  21,  no. 

Joseph,  21,  no,  113, 115,  203,  233,  376. 

Joseph,  Jr.,  114. 

Valentine,  203. 

William,  21,  in.  176,  180,  182,  187. 
Wright,  Ira,  389- 

Trueman  K.,  242. 
Wyer,  David,  83. 

Ebenezer,  83. 

Edward,  83. 

Sarah,  83. 

Yeaton,  Elizabeth,  207. 
John,  252,  367- 
Lydia,  207. 
Nathaniel,  156. 
Philip,  lis. 
Samuel,  12s,  133.  241,  367,  376. 


York,  Hannah,  384. 

John,  11,  21,  33,  34,  35,  174,  178. 

Richard,  3.  5.  9,  21.  31.  32,  33.  35.  171- 

Robert,  24,  127. 

Ruth,  33.  35- 

Samuel,  133,  381. 

Sarah,  383. 

Thomas,  24,  ill,  127. 
Young,  ,  243. 

Abner,  28. 

Albert,  153,  156,  213,  217,  241,  304,  305. 
368. 

Charles,  158,  387. 

Daniel,  28,  152, 196, 197.  304,  384,  395  • 

Eleazer,  28,  385. 

Eliza,  385. 

George,  386. 

George  B.,  158. 

Hamilton,  395. 

Hannah,  262,  304. 

James,  28. 

James  M.,  389. 

James  T.,  158. 

Jeremy,  124,  133. 

John  B.,  156. 

John  T.,  158. 

Jonathan,  28,  387. 

Joseph,  201,  203.  362,  366,  367.  363,  376. 

Josiah,  384. 

Josiah  B.,  156. 
'     Lydia,  382. 

Mary,  396. 

Mary  E„  305. 

Noah,  197. 

Rachel,  392. 

Samuel,  28. 

Samuel,  Jr.,  28. 

Thomas,  379.  392. 
Youngblet,  Friedrick  128. 


So^wX 


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